Denver Nuggets Receive Positive News About Nikola Jokic's Backup originally appeared on Athlon Sports. As NBA teams continue to finalize their rosters for the 2025-26 season, the Denver Nuggets find themselves navigating more than just salary‐cap waters.

Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets' star, was seen celebrating a horse-racing victory in his hometown during the offseason, sparking fan reactions on social media. While some fans appreciated Jokic's passion outside basketball,

Denver remains focused on securing Jonas Valanciunas as Jokic’s primary backup despite unexpected overseas interest in the veteran.

However, the Nuggets also traded Michael Porter Jr. and a future first-round pick (2032) to the Brooklyn Nets for the considerably less expensive Cam Johnson, who may actually be a better fit in the Nuggets' starting lineup than Porter was alongside three-time MVP Nikola Jokic .