Nikola Jokic has already made the part that matters clear: he wants to finish his career in Denver. The only thing he’s not rushing is the contract paperwork.
After helping Serbia to a win in World Cup Qualifiers, the Nuggets star said he intends to retire with the franchise. But instead of locking in an extension now, Jokic is waiting until the 2027 offseason, when he could pass on a four-year, $278 million deal and position himself for a five-year, $359.5 million supermax extension, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. If that happens, it would become the biggest contract in NBA history for a player who has finished no lower than second in MVP voting over the last six seasons.
Denver doesn’t sound rattled. Team executive Jon Wallace was asked about the delay during an ESPN Summer League broadcast and gave a blunt read on the situation, telling Bennett Durando on X: “We feel confident. We trust him… We’ve got no choice but to.”
That calm response matters, especially with the offseason still carrying some noise around Denver. There had been some league chatter after a string of disappointing postseason exits and the team’s roster moves, with some wondering whether Jokic might be uneasy about where things were headed. But while handling his international responsibilities with Serbia during the FIBA World Cup qualifiers, Jokic shut down the speculation and made his stance plain.
He reiterated that he wants to be a “Nugget for life,” and the expectation is that once the timing lines up next summer, Denver’s superstar will put his name on the deal.
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It comes at a time when the Nuggets have not dramatically reshaped the roster after their first-round playoff exit, even with additions like Marvin Bagley III and Tyus Jones and a few familiar veterans moving on. Jokic also spent part of last season dealing with a hyperextended left knee that cost him four weeks, so the slimmer look has naturally prompted some speculation that he may be approaching the year with a little extra attention on staying fresh. [Read more 🡒]