Jokić says he'll extend Nuggets contract next summer — 'if they want me'

Denver Nuggets leader Nikola Jokić told reporters he intends to sign a contract extension with the team next summer, though he added his characteristic caveat: it will happen only if the club still wants him. The three-time NBA MVP said he has spoken about it more than openly and hopes the team trusts him.

Waiting until next summer to sign works in the Serbian center's financial favor. At that point, the 31-year-old will be eligible to sign a five-year 'supermax' contract worth roughly $350 million. Nuggets management has likewise said it has no concerns about its franchise star's future with the club.

Career and success in Denver

Jokić has spent his entire NBA career in Denver and led the Nuggets to their first championship in franchise history in 2023. He noted that he joined the team when it was essentially a mediocre squad, yet together they won a title, and the team still has the ability to compete at the highest level. He tied this to his legacy, citing Stephen Curry — who has spent his entire career with the Golden State Warriors and recently extended his own contract — as an example of the kind of loyalty he wants to be remembered for.

Last season, Jokić averaged 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.7 assists per game, finishing second in MVP voting behind Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Nuggets won 54 games in the regular season, finishing third in the Western Conference, but were eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs.

This offseason, the Nuggets added 37-year-old six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan, who is still chasing his first championship in his 18th NBA season. DeRozan said playing alongside Jokić was a major factor in his decision to join Denver.