Nuggets fans can breathe easy: Nikola Jokic isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
After a recent FIBA World Cup qualifying match, the Serbian superstar made it clear that he wants to extend his contract and finish his basketball career with the Nuggets—though he mentioned he’d prefer to hold off for now on actually signing anything.
In his own words, “My thoughts and wishes are to remain in Denver,” he stated in Serbian. “I hope to play in Denver for the rest of my life.”
Since joining the Nuggets in 2014, Jokic has been a cornerstone player. His current contract goes for another two years, and he will be eligible on June 14 for a four-year extension that could be worth as much as $278 million.
However, waiting until next offseason could open the door for an even bigger payday—if he becomes a free agent, he could sign a five-year deal worth $359.5 million, potentially making it the largest contract in NBA history and pushing his total career earnings to around $724 million. It’s a tempting option, that’s for sure.
At 31, Jokic had a chance last offseason for a three-year, $200 million extension, but he opted not to rush things.
Over 11 years with the Nuggets, he’s established himself as one of the greatest centers in NBA history. Not only did he lead the team to its first championship in 2023, but he has also bagged three MVP awards in 2021, 2022, and 2024 while averaging a triple-double over the last two seasons.
He hasn’t dropped below 24 points per game since the 2019-20 season and has seen great success from long-range shooting. This past season, he averaged 27.7 points on an impressive 56.9% shooting, although he still found himself ranked second in MVP voting again, this time behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Moreover, he topped the league with 12.9 rebounds and 10.7 assists per game.
Yet despite his remarkable performances, the Nuggets faced disappointment in the playoffs, losing in the first round to the Timberwolves. They haven’t managed to get past the second round since their championship win in 2023.
