Nikola Jokic‘s enthusiasm for horse racing is a well-known fact in the NBA community, and in some ways, even outweighs his love for basketball. Still, the idea that Jokic nearly retired before signing his contract extension comes as a surprise.
Former Denver Nuggets center DeMarcus Cousins recently shared the story of how Jokic was contemplating retirement instead of signing a supermax deal on the “Straight Game Podcast“. He recalled:
“When I was with Denver, our lockers were next to each other. I don’t remember who at the time had signed an extension, but I’m like, “Yours is going to be crazy!” He was like, ‘You know, Cuz, I honestly think I might retire before this contract.'”
Cousins was stunned by Jokic’s willingness to walk away from a $300 million payday.
“I said, ‘Man, you out your motherf***ing mind,'” he continued. “I said, ‘Sign the contract and just get fat at worst.’ Don’t pass up on the $300 million. You can’t do that.”
He recalled Jokic saying he just wanted to relax in the Serbian countryside with his horses. Cousins tried to convince him by joking that he could buy more horses with the money.
Jokic’s disinterest in playing basketball was also noted when the four-time All-Star emphasized that Jokic did not care much about playing in the NBA. He claimed:
“If you ever get a chance to just hold a conversation with him, and he tells you a little bit about himself, he really doesn’t give a f**k about this s**t. He doesn’t care. At all. This is like his second or third favorite thing to do. Maybe third or fourth. Most games, when he’s dropping these crazy stats, he probably doesn’t want to be there. And that’s the scary part about all of it.”
If Cousins’ statement is to be believed, something plenty of evidence supports, Jokic may be the most naturally gifted player the NBA has ever seen.
Even disengaged, the Nuggets superstar remains one of the best players in the league. As a perennial MVP candidate, the Serbian big man consistently delivers unreal numbers to help his team secure victories.
In the 2024-25 season, Jokic put up an average of 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.8 assists, while shooting 57.6% from the field and 41.7% from three-point range. Absurd numbers for someone who treats basketball like a hobby.
Jokic’s love for his horses and being home in Serbia is endearing to fans, but it raises several concerns for the Nuggets organization.
Having declined their recent extension offer, possibly for a significantly more lucrative deal next season, the big man could very genuinely leave the team at some point.
While ownership is already uneasy about Jokic’s future in Denver, the bigger question is whether he’ll stay in the NBA at all.
To keep him invested, the Nuggets have been active in building a stronger roster this offseason, effectively seeing them emerge as contenders. The prospects for the upcoming season may be positive, but the superstar will currently focus on representing his home country at the upcoming EuroBasket tournament.
