Nuggets forward Spencer Jones has explained why he signed an offer sheet with a rival team.

Jones signed a fully guaranteed two-year, $12 million offer sheet with Oklahoma City, before the Nuggets matched the deal. 

While the forward will return to Denver for the 2026-27 season, fans weren’t happy he’d signed with a rival in the first place.

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels, right, shoots as Denver Nuggets forward Spencer Jones (21) defends during the second half of Game 6. AP Photo/Matt Krohn

“I get it. But I also need people to understand something,” Jones wrote on LinkedIn. “This is a business. Front offices treat it that way every day and players have to do the same.

“I went into free agency with clear priorities: a team that fits my skillset, a championship culture, and an organization I believe in. Both Denver and OKC checked those boxes. Either way, I was landing somewhere that made sense.”

Jones added that the offer sheet made sure he would end up in the right situation no matter if the Nuggets matched or not.

He also said it allowed him to make history, signing the largest fully guaranteed offer sheet ever as an undrafted player from a two-way contract.

“From a two-way with no safety net to this. I don’t take that lightly,” Jones said.

Jones joined the Nuggets in 2024 on the aforementioned two-way contract after a decent career at Stanford, where he averaged 11 points on 43.9-percent shooting over five seasons.

Spencer Jones #21 of the Denver Nuggets shoots the ball between Naz Reid #11 and Ayo Dosunmu #13 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second quarter in Game Five of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Ball Arena on April 27, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. Getty Images

The forward didn’t contribute much as a rookie, but in year two he started 37 of the 64 games he played in and led the league with 69.2 percent shooting from 3-point range during the playoffs.

During the regular season, he averaged 5.5 points and 3.3 rebounds in 64 games.

While the deal keeps the Nuggets’ home-grown talent in Denver, it also means they are set to enter the second apron for the first time under the current collective bargaining agreement.

Jones’ $12 million deal will increase the Nuggets projected tax penalty by $32 million, nearly doubling from $36 million to $68 million, per ESPN.