Watch CBS News

Denver Nuggets Sign Nikola Jokic To Contract Extension

DENVER (CBS4)- The Denver Nuggets have signed center Nikola Jokic to a contract extension.

"It's not every day that you find a player with the incredible skillset to lead an NBA franchise that Nikola has, but also the character and personality to match that," said Josh Kroenke, Vice Chairman of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment in a statement. "It sounds simple, but our program is built on identifying good people who work hard and represent our organization with pride. Nikola embodies everything we look for in a player and person as he will do anything asked of him because his only concern is helping his team win. Seeing Nikola grow on and off the basketball court is something in which our organization has taken immense pride, and we were determined to do whatever it took to keep Nikola in a Nuggets uniform for a very long time. It's exciting for us to be able to reward Nikola for his hard work thus far, and Nuggets fans should look forward to continue watching him grow into one of the very best players in this league and the leader of our team for years to come."

Nikola Jokic
Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets is guarded by Jeff Teague of the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Pepsi Center on April 5, 2018. (credit: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Additional Information from the Denver Nuggets:

Jokić, 23, enjoyed a historic campaign in 2017-18, averaging career-highs across the board with 18.5 points, 10.7 rebounds. 6.1 assists and 1.20 steals while shooting .499 from the field and .396 from three in 75 games. He became just the sixth player in NBA history to average 18+ points, 10+ rebounds and 6+ assists for a whole season, joining Russell Westbrook, Kevin Garnett, Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson. He is the first player ever to average those numbers in under 33.0 minutes per game. He was also named Western Conference Player of the Week two times in 2017-18, the first Nugget to earn multiple Player of the Week honors in the same season since Carmelo Anthony in 2009-10.

"I am so happy to remain a Denver Nugget for many years to come, it is truly an amazing feeling," said Jokić in a statement. "This franchise believed in me in 2014 and I want to thank the Kroenke family and our great front-office, coaching and training staffs for supporting me and being there for me over the last three years as I've become the player I am today."

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.