The Denver Nuggets are gearing up to pursue another championship title. With teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder improving, the Nuggets are focused on keeping pace, especially by re-signing key forward Aaron Gordon to a four-year, $133 million contract extension.
Gordon joined the Nuggets in 2021 in a trade that involved sending him and Gary Clark to Denver in exchange for Gary Harris, R.J. Hampton, and a draft pick. Prior to that, he spent his entire career with the Orlando Magic. Since his arrival, he has been instrumental to the team, averaging 13.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists over 73 games last season. In the previous season, when the Nuggets clinched the championship, he averaged 16.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.0 assists.
Gordon’s extension followed speculation that the Nuggets were reluctant to offer him a maximum contract. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported that while negotiations were ongoing, the Nuggets were aiming to sign him for less than the $150 million he could have received. They reached an agreement just before the Oct. 21 deadline.
As part of the extension, Gordon will opt into the final year of his current contract, earning $23.8 million in the 2025-26 season. After that, he will receive the highest salary possible. The extension also includes a trade kicker and a player option for the 2028-29 season.
The Nuggets are committed to maintaining their core team. In 2022, they signed Nikola Jokic to a supermax extension, which runs from the 2023-24 season through the 2027-28 season, with a player option for the final year. This offseason, Jamal Murray also signed a four-year, $208 million extension. Although Michael Porter Jr. is still on his rookie extension and will become an unrestricted free agent in 2027, the Nuggets have secured their key players for several seasons, positioning themselves well for another title run. Despite losing some players, like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the Orlando Magic— which benefited them financially by avoiding the second apron—the Nuggets are set to have a successful season with their core intact.
