Nikola Jokic has never expressed a desire to leave the Denver Nuggets, but a recent report had the fanbase just a little bit worried. Jokic was reported to be considering not signing an extension this summer and delaying contract talks for another year.
So, Jokic was naturally asked about his contract and future with the Nuggets following Serbia’s 94-81 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup Qualifiers on Monday.
“My idea is to sign next summer and stay with Denver for the rest of my career,” Jokic said, via The Athletic. “… My idea and my wish is to stay in Denver. I will most probably sign next summer. The decision is strictly business-oriented. My wish is to stay and play for Denver the rest of my career. It’s on them if they want me.”
Jokic, who put up 20 points (6-10 FG), 10 rebounds, 11 assists, two steals, and one block against Bosnia and Herzegovina, made it clear here that this is all about money. The eight-time All-Star has been eligible to sign a four-year, $278 million extension since June 14.
The Nuggets would love for Jokic to sign that deal. The Serb has two years left on his current contract, but has a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28. So, Jokic could potentially leave the Nuggets in free agency in 2027. As a team, you do not want to be in a situation where your superstar can walk away for nothing at the end of the season.
From Jokic’s standpoint, however, waiting a year makes sense from a business standpoint. ESPN reported the three-time MVP will be eligible to sign a massive five-year, $359.5 million contract as a free agent in 2027. That’s an additional $81.5 million, and the largest contract in NBA history.
That contract would run through the 2031-32 season, and Jokic would turn 37 during it. The Athletic’s Sam Amick reports that getting that kind of money in his late 30s played a significant part in this decision-making process.
That would be a lot of money for Jokic when he’d be well past his prime, but the Nuggets wouldn’t hesitate to give him that contract. He is the greatest player in franchise history, and they’re going to do whatever it takes to ensure he sticks around.
The Nuggets will just be praying now that Jokic doesn’t change his mind after next season. You’d imagine he would stick to his word, considering all that he has said so far.
The Nuggets were, of course, stunningly eliminated in the first round of the 2026 playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves. It was a catastrophic failure, but Jokic still made it clear after the series that he wants to be with the team forever. A couple of months before that, in March, he said he didn’t even want to imagine a future outside of Denver. This is a man who is perfectly content staying where he is.
Jokic also mentioned then that he’d be fine even if he doesn’t win another title. The one “organic” championship he led the Nuggets to in 2023 means more than anything to him.
Jokic sure is a rare breed in today’s era. We see so many players wanting out when things aren’t going well, but he wants to stay.
The Nuggets sure got lucky in so many ways with Jokic. The big man is looking pretty lean right now with the Serbian national team, too, and that bodes well for next season.
It would be hard for Jokic to play much better than he did during the last regular season, though. He averaged 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, 10.7 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game for the Nuggets in 2025-26. Jokic won the rebounding and assists titles and finished second in MVP voting.
