Mon Sep 29 11:02pm ET
Field Level Media
Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic has no desire to leave the Denver Nuggets.
Jokic affirmed his commitment to the franchise at Denver's season-opening media day. The Serbian star center was asked if he'd sign a max extension next offseason that could pay him close to $300 million over four years.
"I don't think about that. I think those contracts, extensions come as a reward, as something that is natural to the sport, especially in today's NBA with where you see the salary cap is going," Jokic, 30, said Monday as he ruled out a seismic future move.
"My plan is to be with the Nuggets forever, so that's my answer."
Denver drafted Jokic with the 41st overall pick in 2014. He's averaged more than 24 points and 10 rebounds for five consecutive seasons and was named Finals MVP when the Nuggets clinched the 2023 championship, a franchise first.
The Nuggets are coming off a third straight 50-win campaign but were routed in Game 7 of the second round by the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder. They retooled Jokic's supporting cast in the summer by trading Michael Porter Jr. -- a cornerstone of the 2023 title team -- to the Brooklyn Nets and parting with aging guard Russell Westbrook, who remains unsigned.
Depth pieces DeAndre Jordan, Vlatko Cancar and Dario Saric no longer surround Jokic in the frontcourt.
"There's a bunch of my friends that left -- DJ, Russ, Vlatko, Dario -- so I need to find some new friends," Jokic joked Monday.
Denver's biggest addition, sweet-shooting power forward Cam Johnson, was the Nets' second-leading scorer with 18.8 points per game in 2024-25. A familiar face, versatile forward Bruce Brown, returned to the Nuggets after bouncing from Indiana to Toronto to New Orleans over the past two seasons.
They'll complement the returning core of Jokic, Jamal Murray, Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon, who helped Denver rank third in scoring last season while masking the squad's defensive deficiencies.
"Your best players have to demand what the vibe will be daily," said David Adelman, who enters his first full season as the Nuggets' head coach.
"They can't go into a shell and only worry about how they're doing ... They have to maintenance the team as much as I do."
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, forwardJonathan Kuminga agreed to a two-year, $48.5 million contract to return to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, ending a long summer of negotiations. The new contract also includes a second-year team option. Kuminga suited up for just 47 regular-season games in 2024-25 due to spraining his right ankle in January. When he was healthy, the 22-year-old averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists across 24.3 minutes per contest. He will likely begin the season coming off the bench and could definitely see some action as a starter as the campaign progresses.
Cody Taylor of USA Today reports that Orlando Magic guardJalen Suggs(knee) was able to participate in all non-contact drills during Tuesday's practice. Suggs last played on January 25 and underwent surgery in early March to address a torn ligament in his left knee.The 24-year-old appears to be heading in the right direction and could potentially be available for the Magic's first regular-season contest on October 22 versus the Heat. Before his season abruptly ended, Suggs averaged 16.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.5 steals per game across 35 contests in 2024-25.
Toronto Raptors guard/forward Scottie Barnes has put a lingering hand issue behind him, according to Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca. Barnes said he took a couple of weeks off after the season and is "feeling a lot better" heading into camp. The 24-year-old missed two games in April with a right-hand contusion but is expected to be ready for preseason action. He appeared in 65 games last year, averaging 19.3 points, 7.7 boards, 5.8 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.0 blocks in 32.8 minutes. Even though his field-goal percentage dipped to a career-low 44.6, Barnes still projects as a key fantasy option for 2025-26.
NBA reporter Matthew Tynan reports that San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson stated that both the organization and the NBA have cleared centerVictor Wembanyama to participate in training camp with no restrictions following his diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder last season. Wembanyama averaged 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.8 blocks, and 1.1 steals in 46 contests before the condition ended his season abruptly in February. Now, with a clean bill of health, the 21-year-old superstar is going to be a significant fantasy contributor across all formats during the upcoming campaign.
Dave McMenamin of ESPN reports that Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (pinched nerve) was held out of Tuesday's practice due to nerve irritation in his glute. James joined Marcus Smart (Achilles), rookie Adou Thiero (knee) and Gabe Vincent (knee) on the sideline. While the 40-year-old's setback is considered minor, the Lakers are expected to proceed cautiously. James averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.0 steals over 70 outings last season and remains a reliable fantasy asset across all formats going into his NBA 23rd campaign.
According to Tony East of WTHR Channel 13, Indianapolis, Indiana Pacers power forwardJarace Walker (ankle) focused on conditioning this offseason after suffering an ankle injury during last season's Eastern Conference Finals. In 2024-25, the 22-year-old averaged 6.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 15.8 minutes per contest across 75 appearances. Fantasy managers should expect the Pacers frontcourt to lean on Walker during the upcoming campaign after Myles Turner signed with Milwaukee in July.
Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III (knee) has not been fully cleared to play after undergoing an arthroscopic procedure to address inflammation in his left knee last March. The original timeline was just four to six weeks, but Williams has taken longer than expected to recover. He said at Blazers' media day, ""Injuries are tough. They aren't easy for anyone. But as soon as I'm on the court moving and feeling like my old self, it goes away." He said that he and the team trainers have a target date, but declined to say exactly when that date is. He'll be important backcourt depth for Portland when healthy, and he showed last season that he can contribute meaningful numbers across the box score when available.
Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler expressed frustration at Utah Jazz media day over his contract situation. Earlier reports indicated that the Jazz will not extend the center before the Oct. 20 deadline for fourth-year players. Kessler said he didn't want to talk about the issue after training camp started, but added "that being said, I'm definitely a little frustrated." If Kessler does not sign an extension before the October deadline, he would become a restricted free agent after the season, giving any team the chance to offer him a new contract, with the Jazz retaining matching rights on any deal. Kessler has put up big numbers when healthy and drawn plenty of trade interest, most notably from the Lakers. If he stays in Utah, he could be a big piece to build around for the Jazz, or they could look to turn him into more assets at the trade deadline this season.
Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland (toe) underwent surgery in June to repair the turf toe injury, which limited him in the playoffs. At Cavaliers' media day, Garland said that he has been back on the court working out for a month, and that "Everything's been looking great, the doctors have been saying everything's been looking great, so I'm happy where I'm at right now." Despite his progress, there remains no clear timetable for his return to game action, and he is expected to miss some time at the start of the regular season. While he is out, Donovan Mitchell is expected to shift to point guard with Sam Merrill moving into the lineup. Craig Porter Jr. and Lonzo Ball will also have to carry more of the offensive workload in the second unit.
Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant expects to be in the starting lineup this season and said, "I don't really expect that" when asked how he felt about coming off the bench at Blazers' media day. Grant was limited to 47 games for the Blazers, and he started every one of them. He averaged 14.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.0 blocks per game in his 32.4 minutes per contest, remaining very productive even after 11 seasons in the Association. He has not come off the bench in any of his three years with Portland, starting 118 of his 118 games over those three seasons. With Jrue Holiday and Donovan Clingan likely locked into two starting spots, there are three spots for Grant, Toumani Camara, Deni Avdija, and Shaedon Sharpe. If everyone is healthy, Portland could have a crowded early-season rotation, which will be important to figure out for fantasy value on the new-look roster.
Cleveland Guardians point guard Lonzo Ball didn't shut down the possibility of playing in back-to-back games later in the year. He did say that he doesn't expect to play in both halves early on, which was how he approached that situation last year in Chicago, even when he was healthy. As the season goes on, he could potentially play both games of back-to-backs, though he said it hasn't been something he's discussed with his new team. Cleveland acquired Ball from the Bulls in a trade that sent Isaac Okoro to Chicago. He will help fill in the void left by Ty Jerome's departure via free agency and could get even more work early on depending on the status of Darius Garland (toe). Last year, Ball returned after missing two full seasons and played 35 games for the Bulls, producing 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.3 steals in 22.2 minutes per game. He'll be a key rotation piece for the Cavs and could have fringe fantasy value in the right matchups and situations.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard/forward Max Strus (foot) was expected to miss multiple months after requiring surgery to repair a Jones fracture in his left foot, and he is still months away from returning, according to updates he provided at Cavs' media day. He sustained the injury during a late-August offseason workout in Chicago. At the time of the operation, Strus was expected to resume basketball-related activities in about three to four months, and after that, he will need an extended ramp-up window before he receives clearance for a season debut. Ultimately, he could miss about half the regular season before he's ready to return. While he's out, De'Andre Hunter will likely start for Cleveland, while Sam Merrill and Dean Wade may also see additional usage and time on the court. Strus isn't someone to reach for in season-long drafts except for in the deepest of formats.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward De'Andre Hunter expects to have a starting role this season, Chris Fedor of the Plain Dealer reports. "I feel like that's a role I will probably have," Hunter said during media day on Monday. After arriving from the Atlanta Hawks as part of a mid-season trade, Hunter started only five of 27 appearances with the Cavaliers last term. He still made a positive impact, averaging 14.3 points in 25.0 minutes, but Hunter should be even more productive as a starter. The 27-year-old last played an entire campaign as a starter in 2022-23, averaging 15.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in 31.7 minutes with the Hawks. Given the potential absence of Darius Garland (toe), Hunter could have a major role in the Cavaliers' offense at the start of the season.
Los Angeles Clippers guard Bradley Beal (knee) is healthy for the start of the season, Law Murray of The Athletic reports. Last season, Beal dealt with inflammation in his right knee and had it scoped during the summer. He now feels "good" and is ready to go for the 2025-26 campaign. Beal's fantasy stock has nose-dived in recent years, and it will be interesting to see how he performs with the Clippers. He hasn't been available for more than 60 games in six consecutive seasons, so staying healthy will be key for the former All-Star.
Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard (Achilles) told reporters during media day that he doesn't plan to play this season. "I don't plan on it," Lillard said. "I feel like if this team is a one seed [without me], they probably got it. I'm trying to be as healthy as possible." Lillard underwent surgery to repair his left Achilles tendon in early May. There's no reason to rush back from such a serious injury, and it makes sense for him to sit out the entire 2025-26 campaign. With Scoot Henderson (hamstring) also unavailable, Jrue Holiday and Shaedon Sharpe will have a massive role to play in the Portland backcourt at the start of the season.
Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant is planning a multi-year stay in Texas. "I do see myself signing a contract extension," Durant told reporters during Monday's media day. "I can't tell you exactly when that will happen, but I do see it happening." Durant is eligible to sign a two-year extension worth over $120 million. However, there have been suggestions that the Rockets aren't willing to offer him a max deal. Durant turned 37 on Monday, but if last year is any indication, he appears poised to remain a top-tier fantasy producer this season.
Milwaukee Bucks forward/center Giannis Antetokounmpo (illness) was absent from Monday's media day due to COVID-19, ESPN's Jamal Collier reports. "I'm just waiting for a negative test, so I can leave my house and get on a plane and travel," Antetokounmpo said via Zoom. "I don't want to put anybody at risk." The Bucks start training camp without Antetokounmpo, but this shouldn't impact his readiness for the season too much. Antetokounmpo had a busy summer, helping Greece win bronze at EuroBasket 2025, and he should be in good condition. On Monday, Antetokounmpo confirmed reports that he's open-minded about a move elsewhere. "The same thing I've been saying my whole career, I want to be in a team that allows me and gives me a chance to win a championship," the former MVP said. "I think it's a disservice to basketball, just to the game, to not want it to compete in a high level, to want your season to end in April."
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic decided not to sign an extension this offseason, but he still sees his long-term future with the team. "My plan is to be with the Nuggets forever," Jokic told reporters during Monday's media day. Jokic was eligible for a three-year, $212-million max extension during the offseason. Next summer, he can sign a four-year extension worth nearly $300 million, so financial reasons mainly drove his decision to turn down the extension this year. Jokic appears happy in Denver, and that can only benefit fantasy managers. The three-time MVP averaged a triple-double last season and looks bound to crush it again if he avoids injuries.
Chicago Bulls executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas stated Monday that guard Coby White (calf) will be limited in training camp, K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network reports. White sustained a calf strain in August. Karnisovas hopes the 25-year-old will be cleared to play by the end of the preseason. Once available, White should have a significant role in the Bulls' rotation. He averaged a career-high 20.4 points, 4.5 assists and 3.7 rebounds while shooting 37.0 percent from beyond the arc during 74 contests last season.
San Antonio guardDe'Aaron Fox(hamstring) shared with the media on Monday that he does not expect to be ready for the start of the regular season, according toSpurs' broadcaster Jacob Tobey. Fox has been involved in basketball activities and is feeling well, but he is still experiencing issues with his right hamstring. He also had surgery on his left pinkie finger back in March. With the 27-year-old likely missing in action early in the regular season, rookie guard Dylan Harper could get extra minutes on the floor.
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