Jokic Holds Off on Contract Extension, Eyes Major Payday Next Summer

Nikola Jokic has communicated to the Denver Nuggets that he will not be pursuing a contract extension during this offseason, as reported by Bennett Durando of The Denver Post on Tuesday.

The 30-year-old Serbian star is contracted through the end of the 2026-27 season, with a guaranteed amount of around $115 million and a player option worth nearly $63 million for the 2027-28 season. Weighing his choices, he has opted to delay considerations for another maximum contract until next summer. If he does, he could be in line for a four-year deal valued at roughly $285 million, compared to the current possibility of about $206 million over the next three years.

In order to bolster their roster, the Nuggets have traded Michael Porter Jr. and a 2023 first-round pick for Cam Johnson, are looking to acquire Lithuanian player Jonas Valanciunas via a trade for Croatian Dario Saric, signed Tim Hardaway Jr., and brought Bruce Brown Jr. back into the fold. Additionally, David Adelman has been elevated to the position of permanent head coach. These moves aim to enhance the team’s depth and address some of the roster needs voiced by Jokic after the Nuggets’ exit from the 2025 NBA Playoffs, sponsored by Google. The team appears to be in a stronger position as they approach the 2025-26 season.

During his tenth season with the Nuggets, Jokic made 84 appearances before being eliminated by the eventual champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, in the Western Conference Semifinals. He averaged 29.0 points, 12.7 rebounds, 9.9 assists, 1.8 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game. In total, he has accumulated 839 career games, including a championship season in 2022-23, where he earned the Finals Most Valuable Player award, along with MVP titles for the 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2023-24 seasons.

Another significant point for the Sombor native is the potential of participating in EuroBasket 2025 with the Serbian national team. He has not yet made a definitive decision regarding his participation with the senior team later this offseason.

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