Nikola Jokic is about to become the biggest tax case in Colorado sports.
After voters approved Amendment 87 last week, the state is moving to a graduated income tax that will hit higher earners starting in 2027. For Denver’s biggest names, that means a bigger bill. For Jokic, it means the largest one of all.
Sportico’s Michael McCann and Robert Raiola reported that income above $1 million will be taxed at the top marginal rate of 8.4%, which would leave Jokic paying about $2.5 million more than he would under the current 4.4% flat tax in 2027.
That’s a hefty change for a player already locked into massive money. Jokic’s five-year, $276 million deal with the Nuggets includes $59 million in 2026-27 and $62.8 million in 2027-28.
He’s not the only high-profile Colorado athlete feeling the shift, just the most expensive one. Sportico estimated that the Broncos, Nuggets, Rockies and Avalanche, along with the Colorado Rapids and Denver Summit FC, likely employ around 100 players who will earn $1 million or more in 2027. Mike Klis of 9NEWS reported that 52 of Denver’s 53 active players earn more than $1 million this season.
Other names on the list include Rockies slugger Kris Bryant, who is guaranteed $26 million in salary each of the next two seasons, and University of Colorado head football coach Deion Sanders, whose base salary in 2027 is $11 million.
Colorado wasn’t the only place where voters took aim at the wealthy this year. California also put a one-time billionaire tax on the ballot this month, though that measure failed.
Whether Amendment 87 changes where pro athletes want to sign in Denver, or affects Sanders’ recruiting down the line, is still an open question. The law could also help lower earners in the state, since the graduated tax schedule cuts taxes for people making less than $100,000 beginning next year.
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