From the 1970s to the present, the Denver Nuggets have had at least one strong generation in every decade, but none can compare to the golden standard Nikola Jokić has set over the past several seasons.
Beyond the obvious – leading the franchise to its only championship in history during the 2022-23 season, where the Serbian center earned Finals MVP – Denver has become one of the most dominant teams in the league over the last seven years.
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Vlatko Cancar, now a former teammate of Jokic from their championship days in Colorado, spoke on the X&O’s Chat podcast about how vital Jokic truly is to the franchise.
“We’re really ungrateful sometimes because we now expect miracles from Nikola,” Cancar said on the recent episode of X’&O’s podcast. “You know, when things start going bad — just give the ball to Nikola, cross yourself, and… Some people believe in God, some in Allah, while people in Denver believe in Jokic. He’s like that icon you kiss before bed,” the Slovenian national team player exclaimed.
Denver has the third-most wins across the last seven seasons
Denver has had great players and strong eras before, with stars like Alex English, Dikembe Mutombo, and Carmelo Anthony, but this generation, which won the 2023 Larry O’Brien trophy, is unique. They became the first team ever to win a title without a single top-10 draft pick.
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Over the past seven seasons, they’ve finished as a top-four team in the Western Conference every year but one, a feat the franchise had never achieved in such a long stretch since its founding in 1967.
Also, during the Orlando bubble, they became the first team in history to come back from a 3-1 deficit twice in the same postseason. According to StatMuse, between October 7, 2018, and October 7, 2025, the Nuggets have recorded 355 wins, the third-most in the league over that span, behind only the Milwaukee Bucks and the Boston Celtics.
Jokic is committed to finish his career in Denver
When we consider that Jokic’s key teammates, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., both suffered major injuries and missed significant time during those years, it becomes clear how monumental Jokic’s performances have been.
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The 41st overall pick, a second-rounder, against all odds, has transformed an average franchise into one of the league’s elite for nearly a decade, a feat Denver fans may not see again once the 6’11” center retires.
Although some Denver fans grew anxious this summer when the three-time MVP delayed signing his contract extension, Jokic recently reassured them by declaring his long-term commitment to the team.
“My plan is to be a Nugget forever,” Jokic told reporters. “So that’s my answer.”
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While Jokic is in Denver, they will be a contender
Barring any drastic changes, Jokic is expected to sign his extension next summer, since waiting until 2026 could earn him nearly $80 million more. All of these points to one thing: as long as Nikola stays healthy and Denver’s front office continues to build a contender around him, they will remain among the league’s elite for years to come.
While fans naturally expect more championships from a player delivering timeless performances like Jokic’s, taking a step back and remembering where this franchise was before him makes Cancar’s words even more powerful.
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Jokic has transformed the Nuggets into a basketball sanctuary, and in the Mile High City, he’s nothing short of divine, all this without a single All-Star teammate across his 839 games played.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Oct 7, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.