Three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic told reporters in his native Serbia that he wants to be a Denver Nugget for life, but he's not rushing into a contract extension this offseason.
"My idea is to sign next summer and stay with Denver for the rest of my career," Jokic told reporters in Serbian after a FIBA World Cup qualifying game Monday. "My idea and desire is to stay in Denver. I'll probably sign next year. ... My desire is to play the rest of my life in Denver."
According to ESPN, Jokic
becomes eligible for a five-year, $359.5 million contract in the summer of 2027, which would be the most lucrative deal in NBA history.
That's enough reason for Jokic, 31, to skip past the max extension he is currently eligible for (four years, $278 million).
The center led the NBA in rebounding (12.9 per game) and assists (career-high 10.7 per game) while scoring 27.7 points per contest in 65 games for the Nuggets in 2025-26. He finished runner-up in MVP balloting to Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the second straight season after winning the award in 2021, 2022 and 2024.
Jokic guided the Nuggets to the 2023 league title, but despite finishing the 2025-26 season third in the Western Conference they were knocked out of the playoffs in a six-game, first-round loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Jokic tallied 20 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists for host Serbia on Monday in a 94-81 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in Belgrade, part of qualifying for the 2027 FIBA World Cup.
--Field Level Media
