Nikola Jokic has decided to turn down a three-year contract extension from the Denver Nuggets worth $212 million, opting instead to wait.
By holding off until the 2026 offseason, Jokic positions himself to potentially earn an additional $80 million under the NBA’s projected salary cap increases.
The Nuggets had expected this possibility and were prepared for it.
“We’re definitely going to offer it,” said KSE vice chairman Josh Kroenke back in June.
“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. To be completely transparent, that’s the way we always are. And then he makes the best decision for himself and his family, and we’ll support him in it.”
Since leading Denver to its first NBA title in 2023, Jokic has maintained his elite form, consistently performing at an MVP caliber. However, the team has failed to make it past the second round in the last two postseasons.
Jokic had reportedly expressed the need for the team to strengthen its bench, and he’s said to be satisfied with the recent acquisitions of Cam Johnson, Bruce Brown Jr., Tim Hardaway Jr., and Jonas Valanciunas.
Nikola Jokic Declines Nuggets’ Three-Year, $212M Extension Offer https://t.co/3HY3S8oDu3
— RealGM (@RealGM) July 8, 2025
