DENVER – Three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic is holding off on signing a contract extension with the Denver Nuggets, despite becoming eligible for a lucrative new deal this month.
According to sources who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity, Jokic has opted to wait before committing to a long-term extension. The decision has not been officially addressed by either the player or the franchise.
The 30-year-old Serbian still has over two years left on his current contract, which will see him earn $55.2 million this season and $59 million in 2026–27. He holds a player option for the 2027–28 season worth nearly $63 million. Had he chosen to sign now, Jokic could have added three years and approximately $212 million to the deal.
By delaying, he positions himself for an even more profitable contract, possibly spanning four years with higher earnings.
Josh Kroenke, vice chairman of Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, confirmed earlier in the off-season that the Nuggets planned to present all contract scenarios to Jokic and support whatever decision he makes. “I’m not sure if he’s going to accept it or not because we’re also going to explain every financial parameter around him signing now versus signing later,” Kroenke said.
Jokic is coming off a historic season, becoming the first center in NBA history to average a triple-double – 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game. He finished second in MVP voting behind Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, joining Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook in the rare company of players who’ve achieved full-season triple-doubles.
The Nuggets endured a turbulent campaign, firing coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth with three games left in the regular season. The team responded by winning all three of those games, defeating the Los Angeles Clippers in a seven-game first-round playoff series and pushing the Thunder to a dramatic seven-game battle in the Western Conference semifinals.
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