Nuggets reportedly 'paranoid' of losing Nikola Jokic to free agency as $360M decision looms

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Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic will be closely watched throughout the upcoming season and into next summer. He is eligible to sign a new contract, and many expect him to remain in Denver.

Over the summer, Jokic revealed what has increasingly begun to irritate him: being recognized in public.

“I'm getting more and more bothered by popularity. This is going to sound corny, but, I'm getting ruder to people who approach me. Honestly, it's tiring…Some people around me know, I don't take pictures because it's my time. I'll sound rude again, but what can I do? If people can't understand me, I understand everything, but it's been 11-12 years and enough is enough," Jokic said.

However, concerns about the Nuggets' financial situation and roster construction have led some to question whether the organization is making the most of his prime years.

“Despite all of the accolades he's already piled up, Jokić is smack-dab in the middle of his prime. The 31-year-old has a mostly ground-bound game that should age relatively well. And his team basically just punted on the restricted free agency of its biggest and perhaps best upside bet," Bleacher Report's Andy Bailey wrote.

Jokic could have the opportunity to sign a contract that would make him the highest-paid player in NBA history next summer. However, The Athletic's John Hollinger has reported that there is some paranoia within the organization about the possibility of Jokic leaving Denver.

“While the best Nugget ever has insisted that he wants to stay in Denver and sign a massive five-year deal worth a projected $360 million, there is justifiable paranoia in the Mile High City that the shortcomings of the rest of the roster may cause his eye to wander. Certainly, 29 other teams are scheming for how they might lure him away come July,” Hollinger wrote.

For now, there is little reason for alarm, as Jokic appears content with where he is in his career. However, circumstances during the upcoming season could change his outlook, making his situation worth monitoring.

The organization's reported concerns are notable, but there is no clear indication of an imminent departure. That could change if Jokic becomes dissatisfied with the team's direction or roster decisions during the season. His future in Denver will be an important storyline to follow.