Nikola Jokic is on the Denver Nuggets. Honestly, it feels like he’s been the Denver Nuggets for a lifetime now. Since 2015, the "Joker" has called Colorado home, and in an era where superstars change teams like they’re swapping out sneakers, his tenure in the Mile High City is practically unheard of.
He didn't just land there by accident. Back in 2014, the Nuggets took a flyer on a doughy kid from Serbia with the 41st overall pick. You probably know the story—the broadcast was literally showing a Taco Bell commercial for a "Quarrito" while his name scrolled across the bottom of the screen. Fast forward to 2026, and that second-round gamble has turned into one of the most dominant dynasties in modern basketball history.
The Denver Nuggets: Still the Home of the Joker
If you’re asking what team is Jokic on because you’re looking for a blockbuster trade headline, you won't find one. As of the current 2025-26 NBA season, Jokic remains the undisputed sun that the entire Denver solar system orbits around.
The Nuggets aren't exactly the same team that won the title in 2023, though. The front office has been busy. They’ve swapped pieces like Michael Porter Jr. for Cam Johnson and brought in veteran presence like Jonas Valanciunas and Tim Hardaway Jr. Even with those new faces, the identity is 100% Jokic. He is still the guy walking into Ball Arena with a cup of coffee and a look that says he’d rather be at a horse race, only to drop a 30-point triple-double with zero effort.
🔗 Read more: Who Won the Golf Tournament This Weekend: Richard T. Lee and the 2026 Season Kickoff
Why He Hasn't Left Denver
Loyalty in the NBA is a rare currency. Most guys want the bright lights of LA or the market size of New York. Jokic? He just wants to play, win, and go back to Sombor.
- The Contract Factor: He is currently playing under a massive five-year supermax extension worth roughly $276 million.
- The "Smart Money" Move: There was a lot of buzz in July 2025 when he turned down a three-year extension. People panicked. "Is he leaving?" No. He’s just playing the cap. By waiting until the summer of 2026 to sign his next deal, he can potentially secure a four-year contract worth nearly $290 million.
- The Environment: Coach Michael Malone is gone now, with David Adelman taking the reins. Usually, a coaching change signals a superstar's exit. Not here. Jokic seems perfectly content with the new regime as long as the horses keep running and the passes keep connecting.
What Most People Get Wrong About Jokic's Future
There's a recurring rumor that Jokic is going to retire early. People see him winning three MVPs and a ring and think, "Okay, he’s bored."
It’s a fair guess. He doesn't seek the spotlight. But the 2025-26 season has shown a different side of him. Despite a recent knee injury—a bone bruise that sidelined him in January 2026—his intensity hasn't dipped. He’s currently leading the league in the MVP ladder once again. You don’t do that if you’re planning to pack your bags for a Serbian horse farm next month.
💡 You might also like: The Truth About the Memphis Grizzlies Record 2025: Why the Standings Don't Tell the Whole Story
The reality is that Jokic is chasing a different kind of greatness. He’s not chasing Jordan’s six rings or LeBron’s scoring record. He’s building a legacy of consistency in one city. When you ask what team is Jokic on, the answer is Denver, and it likely will be until the day he hangs it up.
Recent Stats and Impact (2025-2026 Season)
Before the knee hyperextension that kept him out of the mid-January stretch against the Mavs and Hawks, Jokic was putting up numbers that felt like a video game glitch.
We’re talking 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 11.0 assists.
📖 Related: The Division 2 National Championship Game: How Ferris State Just Redrew the Record Books
He’s shooting 60.5% from the field. Read that again. A center who takes threes and mid-range floaters is hitting six out of every ten shots. It’s absurd. The Nuggets have managed to stay afloat while he’s been in the training room, thanks to Peyton Watson stepping up, but let’s be real: without Jokic, the Nuggets are a gritty playoff team. With him, they’re a championship favorite.
Life in the Mile High: The Roster Around Him
To understand what team is Jokic on, you have to look at who is actually on the floor with him right now. The 2026 Nuggets look a bit different than the 2023 championship squad:
- Jamal Murray: Still the "Blue Arrow." When he’s healthy, the two-man game with Jokic is the most unstoppable play in basketball.
- Aaron Gordon: The ultimate glue guy. He’s still catching lobs and guarding the other team’s best player.
- The New Blood: Cam Johnson provides that elite spacing Jokic needs, and Valanciunas gives the Nuggets a "bruiser" look they haven't had in years.
- Bruce Brown’s Return: One of the biggest wins for Denver was getting Bruce Brown back. He was the "missing piece" in 2023, and his energy in 2026 is still infectious.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're following Jokic and the Nuggets this season, here is what you need to keep an eye on to stay ahead of the curve:
- Watch the 65-Game Rule: To remain eligible for his fourth MVP, Jokic can only miss a total of 17 games this season. With his January injury, he’s cutting it close. If he misses more time, the MVP race is wide open for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Luka Doncic.
- Monitor the 2026 Free Agency: While he’s "on the Nuggets," the summer of 2026 is the big contract year. Expect him to sign a deal that makes him the highest-paid player in league history.
- Injury Returns: He’s projected to return around January 27th. Watch how the Nuggets' offensive efficiency jumps the moment he’s back on the floor. It usually goes from "league average" to "historic" overnight.
Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets are tied at the hip. Whether it’s his love for the city, the financial genius of his contract delays, or just the fact that he has a winning system built entirely around his unique skills, he isn't going anywhere. He’s a Denver legend in the making, and we’re just lucky enough to watch the prime of his career unfold in the Rockies.
Check the Nuggets' schedule for late January to catch his return. Watching him live—even on a screen—is a completely different experience than looking at a box score. The way he manipulates the defense without even moving his feet is something you won't see from any other player in the league.