Denver Gazette beat writer Vinny Benedetto takes you around the NBA and inside the Nuggets locker room:

NBA Insider

The face of the Nuggets’ franchise eased any concerns about his future in Denver.

“My plan is to be with the Nuggets forever,” Nikola Jokic said at the Nuggets’ media day morning at Ball Arena.

Jokic is eligible to sign a three-year contract extension worth more than $200 million until Oct. 20. Next summer, Jokic can sign a four-year extension that will be worth nearly $300 million.

Denver’s lead executives, Ben Tenzer and Jon Wallace, declined to discuss the specifics of any negotiations but said they like where Jokic is at heading into the season. The Nuggets’ front office made a trip to Latvia to see Jokic during Serbia’s run in this summer’s EuroBasket tournament.

“We feel good with that,” Wallace said. “We talked to him. He’s in a good head space. Obviously … we can’t get into numbers or specifics, but he’s in a good head space, as are we. Hopefully, we can continue to further that relationship.”

Jokic lived up to his nickname in his first media appearance back in the states. He cracked jokes about reviving Bruce Brown’s career; his brother’s excitement the NBA will no longer count heaves as individual shot attempts; and the need to replace some friends in the locker room after the departures of Vlatko Cancar, DeAndre Jordan, Dario Saric and Russell Westbrook.

Jokic was also on brand when it came time to talk big business. The Nuggets have been clear they’re ready to reward Jokic whenever the best player in franchise history is ready.

“I don’t think about it,” Jokic said. “I think those contract extensions come as a reward … especially in today’s NBA.”

Peyton Watson and Christian Braun are also eligible for extensions on their rookie contracts, and they followed the patient lead of their leader. Wallace said they’ve had preliminary discussions about an extension and hoped those conversations continue to progress, as Braun is considered a part of the franchise’s core.

“There’s no frustration. I think that it’s going to happen at some point. Whatever happens, happens. I think the most important part is I need to show up and do my job. That’s kind of how I’ve always been,” Braun said.

“I owe it to these guys. I owe it to the city of Denver. I owe it to these people to show them who I am by continuing to work hard, continuing to put the work in and all of that stuff will take care of itself.”

Watson wasn’t sweating his first opportunity to negotiate an NBA contract, either.

“For me, it’s more so about doing things the right way, having an organization that embraces me as a player and the person that I am. I think that Denver does that, so I’m happy with where we are,” Watson said.

The appreciation is mutual, but the deals still need to be finalized. If neither Braun or Watson agree to extensions before next offseason, they will both enter restricted free agency.

“They both have huge roles coming up this year,” Tenzer said. “We feel like they’re both ready to take a step. We hope they’re here for a long time.”

What I’m Thinking

Jamal Murray acted like he was ready to break a trend this offseason and backed up his action with words Monday.

Denver’s point guard was credited by Wallace for getting some of the team’s younger players involved in offseason workouts. Nuggets coach David Adelman said Murray led the charge to get a large group of players out to UCLA to play together this summer.

“Jamal had an amazing summer. He looks good. I think mentally he’s great. I give him so much credit in Los Angeles. The guys got together,” Adelman said.

“It was good to see Jamal take the lead on that.”

Murray explained his motivation.

“I’m just trying to win a championship,” Murray said.

In the last handful of years, Murray has simultaneously developed a reputation for being one of the game’s best clutch performers despite getting off to a slow start of the season. He admitted making an All-Star Game is something he still cares about, but that’s not the current focus.

“I’m just focused on having a really great November,” Murray said. “I think we just start there.”

Whether it was the championship run in 2023 or last year’s Olympics, it’s been a few years since Murray had an offseason like this year.

“I just feel a lot better than last summer. That’s always a positive,” Murray said. “I just took a good period of time off and then had time to work myself back up, which was nice. So, here we are. I’m ready to go.”

What They’re Saying

• Media day marked the first time Jonas Valanciunas spoke on the record about his summer. Valanciunas did not deny he had interest in continuing his career in Greece but said he’s focused on the present and making the most of his opportunity to be back on a winning team.

“One thing I want to clarify is I’m here. I’m happy to be here, and I’m going to dive into whatever I need to do to win more games than ever. I think it will be a great opportunity to compete for the highest level,” Valanciunas said.

“If I’m not happy, I’m not going to be here, right? I think we’ve got to put everything behind us, because it’s history. Now, we have a future in front of us.”

• Bruce Brown talked a lot about his excitement to be back in Denver after splitting the last two seasons between Indiana, Toronto and New Orleans. He said it didn’t take long after leaving Denver to realize he wanted to return and added he didn’t care if another team offered more money this offseason, helping his cause as a fan favorite.

“I’m just happy to be back in Denver, man. It was a long two years, a lot of losing basketball. I’m trying to win again,” Brown said.

“The vibe is great. The vibe is at an all-time high. Everybody is on the same page. We know what the goal is.”

• After singing the praises of Michael Porter Jr., David Adelman had to get a joke off at Denver’s former starting small forward’s expense.

“Michael Porter won a championship here and trading him was good for us financially. We got a good player back, all those things, flexibility, (but) Mike was incredible for us,” Adelman said. “Over the years he spent here, what he went through with his body, what he gave to the city of Denver … what he’s giving to social media right now is something. We’re going to miss Michael, miss the uniqueness of him.”

What I’m Following

• Nikola Jokic’s second signature shoe has been announced. Chinese brand 361 Degrees released a black, pink and blue colorway of Jokic’s second signature shoe. Jokic briefly advertised his second sneaker Monday.
• The Nuggets’ coach said first-year assistant Jared Dudley will take on the defensive responsibilities on the coaching staff. Adelman also said he envisions playing Jokic and Valanciunas together at times this season.
• Kevin Durant said he sees a contract extension to stay in Houston happening. Durant starts the season on the final year of his contract after being traded from Phoenix. The Rockets can offer Durant a two-year extension worth as much as $120 million.
• Kawhi Leonard and the rest of the Clippers organization denied any wrongdoing as the NBA investigates a potential no-show sponsorship deal with Aspiration that could be seen as circumventing the salary cap.
• What was long anticipated became official over the weekend. Al Horford is leaving the Celtics to join the Warriors. Golden State also brought back Gary Payton II and De’Anthony Melton, though Jonathan Kuminga’s contract situation remains unsettled.
• Chauncey Billups’ job got a little more difficult. Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson tore his left hamstring during a workout and is expected to miss a month or two.