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.
Jokic’s contract runs through 2026-27, with a player option for 2027-28. He became extension-eligible Tuesday and could have signed a three-year, $212M extension that replaced his option — or he could wait until July 2026 and sign for four years and $293M.
The Nuggets were anticipating that Jokic might bypass an extension, according to Durando, due to the additional year and projected $81M extra they can offer next summer.
Nuggets vice chairman Josh Kroenke said Jokic would be offered the three-year extension last month.
“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.
