Nikola Jokić’s next contract decision is starting to hang over Denver, and the longer it stretches, the louder the questions get.
Jokić will be eligible to sign an extension with the Nuggets on July 6, but that does not guarantee anything will be done this summer. Marc Stein and Jake Fischer reported Sunday that the front office “has been well aware” the superstar has been weighing the possibility of holding off on a new deal, and they want to know how long that uncertainty might last.
That matters because this can’t be treated like a harmless delay. Jokić said after the 2025-26 season ended that he wanted to be with the Nuggets “forever,” and that still may be the direction this all goes. But if he chooses not to sign now, Denver would be left staring at a much more uncomfortable timeline.
He would have until next June to agree to an extension, and if that never happens, he could decline his $62.8 million player option next summer and become an unrestricted free agent. Letting it get that far would be a nightmare for the Nuggets.
Denver wants this resolved sooner rather than later, but if Jokić keeps the door open, it gives other teams room to start circling. And it also invites every uncomfortable what-if that comes with a franchise player who has not exactly behaved like a typical NBA superstar.
Jokić doesn’t lean on the front office or chase the spotlight. He keeps a low profile. That makes him different, but it also means Denver can’t simply assume everything will take care of itself.
If the Nuggets stumble early next season, or if they fall out in the first or second round of the playoffs again, the speculation will only get heavier. A rough start could raise questions.
Another short playoff run could raise even more. Those are the kinds of scenarios no Nuggets fan wants to imagine, but they are now part of the conversation.
For now, the hope in Denver is simple: Jokić signs this summer and removes the uncertainty. If he doesn’t, the noise around his future is only going to grow, and teams around the league will be ready to make their move.
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