“We’re about halfway through it”- Nuggets GM insists their team is still in the middle of Nikola Jokic’s ‘10-year contention window

Nikola Jokic is the Denver Nuggets' be-all and end-all, and that's how the franchise approaches the upcoming season and the ones in the future. Nevertheless, general manager Calvin Booth is aware that these years go by instantly, all the more reason to have a sense of urgency.

"In a best-case scenario, I think Nikola has a prime 10-year contention window," said Nuggets GM Calvin Booth, per Baxter Holmes. "I think we're about halfway through it. So, we probably have about five more similar shots and all the shots count. We hit one of them, that's great. The earlier we hit it, the more we can have conversations about other things, but it's going to be incredibly hard to win another one."

Realistically, when did that 10-year window start? If 2019 was the beginning of Joker's prime years, this season is the fifth year of that window. The Serbian big man collected every accolade that mattered within that time frame: MVP awards in 2021, 2022, and 2024, and a championship plus a Finals MVP in 2023.

But then again, even if the Nuggets are enjoying peak performances from the best player in the world, championship rings do not grow in trees.

Tough times ahead for Denver

The stricter salary cap rules prevented the Nuggets from building as much continuity as they'd like. Because of the new Collecitve Bargaining Agreement, Booth was forced to let Kentavious Caldwell-Pope go, who immediately signed a three-year, $66 million deal with Orlando. KCP's two-way capability is a huge loss for the Nuggets. KCP navigated screens with the best of them and shot at least 40% from deep in each of the last two seasons.

The team hopes they could replace Caldwell-Pope's skill set by committee. Christian Braun shot steadily during their championship run, while Julian Strawther and Peyton Watson injected youth and defensive upside. They will also rely on the new acquisition of Russell Westbrook for additional playmaking off the bench. The former MVP averaged a career-low 4.5 assists per game last season but still has the engine to make things happen.

On top of their roster challenges, the Nuggets faced the added pressure of a more stacked Western Conference than ever before. The Oklahoma City Thunder virtually has no weaknesses with the acquisitions of Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso. The Memphis Grizzlies will welcome Ja Morant back in the lineup. The Rockets, Kings, and Spurs will likely improve, while the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves will remain powerhouses. Of course, the Suns, Lakers, and Clippers will have something to say about it, too.

A constant amidst changes

With all the unknowns facing the Nuggets this upcoming season, they can turn to Aaron Gordon for consistency. Jamal Murray's health will ultimately determine their ceiling, but Gordon's steady contributions are as equally crucial and less prone to fluctuation. Along this line of thought, AG knows what he must do to help out their superstar center.

"I think Nikola Jokic is probably going to go down as one of the best to ever play the game," Gordon added. "[I'm] working my tail off, working my ass off to maximize his time in the NBA."

Gordon has been a valuable player for Denver since joining the team in 2021. The Nuggets have a 159-82 record in the games that the Arizona alum played, an impressive 66% win rate. He averaged 14.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.9 assists on 54% shooting during these outings. More importantly, he admirably filled in the gaps in the corners and dunker spots or created vertical spacing as a lob option.

For the Nuggets to take advantage of their perceived championship window, they need all hands on deck. They might not have their best roster talent-wise compared to their 2023 run, but as long as Denver has Nikola Jokic, they have more than a puncher's chance.

Related: Vlade Divac crowns Nikola Jokic as the best European basketball player ever: "I think there's no room for doubt"