The Los Angeles Lakers have always been a hotbed for the brightest of NBA stars throughout the franchise's history. That is why they have been constantly linked to Giannis Antetokounmpo in the lead-up to his expected departure. However, Giannis is not the only superstar worth watching.
What about Nikola Jokic?
Antetokounmpo's saga has been the louder, and more publicized, one due to the irredeemable failures of the Milwaukee Bucks franchise. Even so, the recent shortcomings of the Denver Nuggets franchise are worth paying attention to as well. That is especially true considering that Jokic, much like his Bucks counterpart, is also entering the final year of his current deal before a player option.
That is why the question of whether the Nuggets superstar accepts an extension from Denver during the summer is an incredibly important matter to see resolved. That much was something neither Jason Quick or Sam Amick could ignore in a recent write-up for The Athletic.
Nikola Jokic's extension saga will be watched by all — inlcuding the Lakers
To be clear, the situations of Antetokounmpo and Jokic are different.
Giannis has been playing both sides in suggesting he wants a new home and wants to stay in Milwaukee for as long as anyone can remember at this point. The former is likely to be more true. Jokic has given no obvious push to suggest he wants to leave, yet.
The recent comments of the three-time MVP after the Nuggets were eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round did suggest some frustration. Jokic said if his current circumstances played out in Serbia, they would all be fired.
Nikola Jokic: “We just lost in the first round. I think we are far away.”
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 1, 2026
Changes needed?
“That’s not my decision. Definitely, if we were in Serbia, we would all be fired.” pic.twitter.com/9JfZftejzt
Considering the Nuggets were expected to be title contenders and ended up bowing out to a depleted Timberwolves team, disappointment is a fair feeling to have on the matter. Any disgruntlment from Jokic after that outcome would be more than justified.
For his part, though, no one in the franchise has been given the impression of the former NBA Finals MVP wanting to leave.
The pair of Amick and Quick wrote: "While team sources say there is no indication that the three-time league MVP has a wandering eye, ... the fact remains that he chose not to sign an extension last summer and, thus, can be a free agent in the summer of 2027."
That decision has long been cited as a financial one. Jokic stands to make much more money on his next deal by waiting to do it during this upcoming offseason.
Making that choice has offered a different type of opportunity, though. Jokic has gotten to evaluate his front office for one more year before committing. A first-round exit certainly does not bode well for the Nuggets in this situation.
"The entire league will be watching to see if he signs the extension," Amick and Quick added.
That should naturally include the Lakers. Given the close relationship of Jokic and franchise superstar Luka Doncic, it would be malpractice to not keep tabs on the developments happening in Denver.
Granted, this is a long shot, for the most part. Jokic has indicated that staying with the Nuggets is his preference. With the Serbian center being 31 years old, the Lakers would also need to ramp up the win-now pace much faster than they would with just Doncic, who is only 27 by comparison.
However, ruling out the possibility entirely is not something that should be done until the ink has dried on Jokic's brand-new deal. Until then, there will be reasonable intrigue with keeping a close eye on how everything shakes out. There could be a path here for Antetokounmpo to not be the only superstar sweepstakes during the summer of 2026.
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