Superstar center Nikola Jokic has informed the Nuggets he does not intend to sign an extension this offseason, instead choosing to wait for when a more lucrative deal will be available in 2026, team sources tell Bennett Durando of The Denver Post.
The Nuggets were anticipating that Jokic might bypass an extension, according to Durando, due to the additional year and extra $79MM they can offer next summer.
Based on the latest salary cap projections, a three-year, maximum-salary for Jokic beginning in 2027/28 would be worth $206.4MM. A four-year deal, available next offseason, would be worth a projected $285.4MM.
Nuggets vice chairman Josh Kroenke said last month that Jokic would be offered the three-year extension.
“We’re definitely gonna offer it,” Kroenke said on June 24. “I’m not sure if he’s gonna accept it or not because we’re also gonna explain every financial parameter around him, signing now versus signing later.”
Over the past five years, the 30-year-old Serbian has won three MVP awards and was the runner-up twice. In one of those second-place seasons (2023), Jokic led the Nuggets to an NBA championship, claiming Finals MVP in the process.
Vinny Benedetto of The Denver Gazette and Marc Stein of The Stein Line have confirmed Durando’s reporting (Twitter links).
Jokic was open about the Nuggets needing to improve after they lost their second-round playoff series to the Thunder in seven games. Oklahoma City went on to win the NBA Finals.
The Nuggets have had a busy offseason. They agreed to trade Michael Porter Jr. and their 2032 first-round pick to the Nets for Cameron Johnson; agreed to another to send Dario Saric to the Kings for Jonas Valanciunas; brought back Bruce Brown on a one-year deal; and added Tim Hardaway Jr. in free agency.
For what it’s worth, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on the Hoop Collective podcast (YouTube link) that he’s heard second-hand that Jokic liked the moves Denver made this summer.
He definitely wants to play with Luka in LA or create a super team with Luka
Definitely will keep that option open. If he wants out, with only one year left on his contract he will have much more control where he goes ( “I’ll only sign new country with team X”), and the new team will have to give up less making them better contenders.
Be interesting if Luka has been in his eating about it. The Lakers have not been taking on any new big contracts next year, and with Bron off the books they will have lots of cap room to take him on.
I’m sure signing for more next off season had nothing to do with it. I mean whoever does that?
Did you read my first line? I said now the option to move will be possible. They have a new coach who has a total 13 game head coaching experience. They have Murray who is up and down with his play and injuries.
If Nuggets do well this year he has no reason to move. If they don’t, his options are open now.
Jokic is so non-L.A. you can’t imagine someone more non-L.A. So’s Doncic, but a little less so.
I’m glad everyone already knows everything. At least it’s settled. Johnny and seam are running all the teams now. Sorry owners and governors, your jobs are now done.
Not surprising in the least. Good on Jokic for making the smart financial move for himself/his family.
Back up the Brinks truck
Well at least the Nuggets will win the lottery in 27
Breaking news: Nuggets won’t offer Jokic an extension this year because he would have to financially stupid to accept one.
It does put a little pressure on DEN to insure that they continue to surround him with talent after not making ideal moves the past few years.
They probably made all these moves this year to show Jokic they were willing to improve the team.
This guy is top3 basketball player I ever seen play, right up there with MJ & Bron (slightly below tbh). The accolades & stats don’t mean as much to me as just the unreal talent/consistency that comes across so clearly when watching those guys play. But it will sorta hurt Jokic in the all-time debates if he never wins a FIBA gold medal & “only” wins the 1 ring & 2 MVPs compared to the multiple gold medals/MVPs/NBA titles the other top greats have. Obv it’s unrealistic to expect him to beat loaded USA teams regularly (1-4 so far). But if he fails to even win a Eurobasket gold it might be tough to argue for him top5 over guys like Kareem/Wilt/Duncan/Magic. This def won’t be his last shot at a gold medal but it will prob be his last chance at one as the prohibitive favorite going in. Of course they were the favorites last time & got bounced early so there’s a lil more pressure this time. Jokic was absolutely great last Eurobasket, hopefully his teammates (Jovic/Micic specifically) step up a lil more this time… link to m.youtube.com
He’s obviously a tremendous player but is anyone worth $70 million a year strictly from a cap perspective. How do you put together a competitive team
Lol literally every single team would sign him for 70 million. Every team would sign him for 100 million
70 million on the cap today won’t be the same as 5 years from now. Cap inflation has a tremendous impact on what it will actually mean in terms of team building. It won’t be long before every team has a guy making 65 to 75 million.
He’s being cautious. Jokić is probably wondering if the Nuggets would force him to stay in Denver if he wanted to retire in three or four years and go play in Europe.
If he was being cautious he would sign the extension….
He saw the extension SGA got and is like “Me 2”.
The Joker’s Wild (sorry)
Lakers.
If Lebron retires, the Lakers can afford him.
Jokic has anterior motives than financial for this move. On the 3 year contract the last year he will be making 71 mill. The 4th year would be 79 million. If he signed this 3 years then signed a new extension two years from now that 4th year (first year in new contract) would be more than 79 million. Plus, he will be giving up the security of signing now.
They have a new head coach. They have Murray who is always up and down, and injury prone. They have a new GM. He wants to see how this year goes.
You don’t think they checked in with Jokìć before firing the head coach? From the interviews I’ve seen, he didn’t seem to have an issue with it. He may have even wanted a change. Either way, Jokìć seems to be doing just fine as the new head coach. They went 3-0 to close the regular season and finished 7-7 in the playoffs, pushing the defending champions to seven games.
Jokic liking Malone or not has nothing to go with it. I said there are a lot of variables and I’m sure he made this move to keep his options open as there was no financial reason to do it. In fact, the financial benefit to signing now was much greater as he round have had the security of knowing he will get paid those extra years. He could get into a car accident shd not be able to play agsin.