The NBA 2K26 Summer League is underway in Las Vegas, hosting all 30 NBA teams at the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus. This event serves as the league’s premier offseason showcase, giving rookies, sophomores, and fringe roster players a chance to prove themselves over a ten-day schedule. With free agency rumors swirling, the atmosphere is ripe for players, executives, and agents to combine scouting and networking with workouts and informal meetings.
Among those present at the Summer League is Nikola Jokic’s brother, Strahinja Jokic, who made headlines by crossing paths with Arturas Karnisovas, the Chicago Bulls’ Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations. This meeting took place amid the ongoing contract negotiations between the Bulls and guard Josh Giddey, which have been tense and drawn out during the summer.
Nikola Jokic’s Secure Future in Denver
Nikola Jokic remains firmly committed to the Denver Nuggets, under contract through 2026 with a player option worth $62.8 million for 2027. There is no indication Jokic plans to leave, as waiting could secure him a more lucrative four-year, $290 million extension next summer, a significant increase over the $212 million he could have signed for this year. Jokic recently delivered an MVP-caliber season, averaging 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists, and finishing second in the MVP voting. His close family and inner circle continue to be present at league events, reinforcing the stability around his career.
Strahinja Jokic, who previously played professional basketball in Serbia before leaving the sport, was seen training in Las Vegas. Alongside the younger brother Nemanja, who played college basketball at Detroit Mercy and Long Island University, the Jokic family’s basketball roots run deep. Nikola Jokic once remarked on their differing strengths, saying,
“One is talented, one is really strong. I’m a little bit talented, and a little bit strong.”
— Nikola Jokic
Chance Encounter Between Bulls Executive and Jokic’s Brother
During the Summer League, Arturas Karnisovas was spotted working out on an elliptical machine and greeting Strahinja Jokic, a figure noted for his large stature and presence in the gym. NBA analyst Zach Lowe shared on The Lowe Post,
I did see Arturas Karnisovas working out… he was on an elliptical… and you know who he said hi to? The scariest of the Jokic brothers is here in Las Vegas for some reason.
— Zach Lowe
Lowe also commented on Strahinja’s impressive size and dedication at the gym, stating,
I had forgotten how enormous Strahinja is… he was lifting weights at the gym before I got there and still lifting weights as I was leaving.
— Zach Lowe
Karnisovas’s presence is notable, given his pivotal role with the Bulls. Earlier in the year, he addressed Bulls fans, asserting,
I’m asking fans for patience because we are in the first year of transition.
— Arturas Karnisovas
He also expressed cautious optimism by adding,
There are positives and we have to keep on building on this group.
— Arturas Karnisovas
Karnisovas’s recent moves include re-signing Tre Jones on a three-year, $24 million contract shortly after executing the trade that sent Lonzo Ball to Cleveland for Isaac Okoro. This encounter between him and Strahinja Jokic may seem casual, but in a league where every connection can have ramifications, it draws attention amid ongoing contract disputes.
The Bulls’ Slow Offseason and Josh Giddey Contract Deadlock
The Chicago Bulls have approached the offseason steadily but without headline-grabbing decisions. Their trade sending Lonzo Ball to Cleveland for Isaac Okoro raised eyebrows but did not quash questions about the team’s direction. The draft selection of Noa Essengue at 12th overall added potential but not immediate star power. The most pressing matter remains the unsettled contract negotiation with Josh Giddey, who the Bulls acquired in a deal involving Alex Caruso—with no draft picks exchanged in return, a trade still debated among fans.
Giddey’s camp reportedly seeks a contract near $30 million per year, a figure some consider ambitious based on current market conditions. K.C. Johnson reported that talks remain ongoing but stalled, with no movement in negotiations even after nearly a month of discussions. The standoff persists despite the Bulls holding significant leverage, as Giddey is a restricted free agent and no team with enough salary cap space can sign him outright.
The player could opt to accept the $11.1 million qualifying offer for the upcoming season and then enter unrestricted free agency next summer, a risky strategy that leaves the door open for a better deal or a larger market down the line. Giddey has remained notably absent from Bulls-organized Summer League events in Las Vegas, choosing instead to work out independently, including training with renowned assistant coach Phil Handy.
Jake Fischer, an NBA insider, highlighted the implications of Giddey’s absence by saying,
certainly seems like an indication that negotiations… are not trending in an amicable direction.
— Jake Fischer
The optics of Giddey socializing with other NBA players while bypassing team bonding activities reinforce the narrative of a strained relationship between the player and organization.
Ongoing Negotiations and the Bulls’ Strategic Choices
This prolonged contract debate appears to be a strategic waiting game. The Bulls seem willing to hold their ground, betting on Giddey to accept less favorable terms or to accept the qualifying offer rather than overpaying in an uncertain market. This caution is informed by their recent experience with Patrick Williams’s five-year, $90 million contract, a deal that divided opinion and is not widely championed within the organization.
Sports journalist Joe Cowley described the current market for restricted free agents as harsh, emphasizing the poor timing that works against Giddey’s position. The Bulls conducted one bonding trip in Los Angeles earlier in the summer, although it remains unclear whether Giddey participated. Another such trip is planned prior to training camp, which could serve as an opportunity to ease tensions and move negotiations forward.
Until Giddey commits to a contract or formally accepts the qualifying offer, both sides remain locked in this protracted impasse, leaving the Bulls’ offseason plans uncertain and the player’s immediate future undecided.
Why This Matters
The encounter in Las Vegas between a prominent Bulls executive and Nikola Jokic’s brother stands out against the backdrop of the Bulls’ difficult Josh Giddey Bulls Contract Standoff. While it may be a coincidental gym meeting, it underscores how closely interconnected NBA decision-makers and influential figures can be during critical negotiation periods. For the Bulls, resolving the Giddey contract issue is vital as they aim to solidify their roster and build around their current core.
With summer extending and no resolution yet, all eyes will remain on Chicago’s front office moves, summer bonding activities, and how the ongoing chess match with Giddey—one of their promising young players—will conclude. The outcome will shape the Bulls’ strategy for the 2025-26 season and beyond while leaving an open question about whether indirect influences, such as off-court meetings in venues like Las Vegas, may impact future decisions.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. How old was Josh Giddey when he got his triple double?
A. At just 19 years and 84 days old, Giddey became the youngest player ever in the NBA to achieve a triple-double.
Q. Why did OKC get rid of Josh Giddey?
A. He wasn’t prepared to accept a spot on the bench. Furthermore, Giddey wanted a fair salary. Although Giddey and the Bulls haven’t agreed on an extension, a long-term deal seems likely. Chicago can offer Giddey the role and salary that he probably couldn’t get in OKC.
Q. How old was Josh Giddey when he got a triple-double?
A. At 19 years and 84 days old, Giddey became the youngest NBA player to achieve a triple-double. He is also the first rookie since 1961 to get three triple-doubles in a row, matching Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson’s record.