NBA rumors: Nikola Jokic reportedly informs the Denver Nuggets of major decision regarding his future

The Denver Nuggets are focused on building the strongest possible roster for the upcoming NBA season, aiming to remain title contenders in the Western Conference. At the heart of those plans is, of course, Nikola Jokic—team leader and one of the most influential players in the world.

Recognizing the Serbian center’s value to the franchise and the league, the Nuggets recently offered him, according to reports, a three-year contract extension worth $212 million. That would average out to roughly $70 million per year.

Jokic is currently under contract with Denver through the 2027–28 season. Over that span, he is set to earn approximately $177 million under his current deal, according to HoopsHype. That means the proposed extension represents about a 17% increase.

Despite the impressive numbers, it doesn’t appear to be enough to convince the three-time NBA MVP. According to Bennett Durando of The Denver Post, Nikola “has informed the Nuggets he won’t sign a contract extension this offseason,” so negotiations, for now, are at a standstill.

Nikola Jokic is under contract with the Nuggets until 2028.

Jokic turning down the extension offer doesn’t necessarily signal any dissatisfaction with his current situation in Denver, nor does it suggest he’s considering leaving the team in the near future. Instead, the decision appears to be rooted purely in financial strategy.

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NBA rules regarding salary caps and team payrolls limit what franchises can offer players in contract extensions. Under current conditions, the Nuggets can offer Jokic a maximum of three years and $212 million.

However, that scenario will shift next year. After the 2025–26 season, Jokic will become eligible for a four-year extension worth nearly $300 million. That would bring his average annual salary to $75 million, and the deal would run an extra year compared to the current offer.

With that in mind, the 2023 NBA champion could not only secure a massive payday, but also long-term financial stability through 2030. By then, he would be 35 years old and entering his 15th season in the league.

Meanwhile, the Nuggets are focused on building the best possible roster around Nikola Jokic for next season, strengthening the team to provide more options for head coach David Adelman. Despite losing players such as Russell Westbrook, DeAndre Jordan, Michael Porter Jr., and Dario Saric, they remain confident in reinforcing the squad with the additions of Cam Johnson, Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Jonas Valanciunas.