Last Updated:July 11, 2025, 18:43 IST
Nikola Jokic delayed signing a contract extension with the Denver Nuggets, aiming for a better deal next summer. He’ll play under new head coach David Adelman.
Nikola Jokic for Denver Nuggets (AP)
Three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic has opted to delay signing a contract extension with the Denver Nuggets this offseason, as per reports.
The move does not affect Jokic’s immediate status in Denver. The Serbian star has two years left on his current deal — earning $55.2 million in 2025-26 and $59 million in 2026-27 — with a player option worth nearly $63 million for the 2027-28 season.
Jokic became eligible on Tuesday to sign a three-year extension worth approximately $212 million. However, by waiting until next summer, he could sign a more lucrative four-year deal under new salary cap projections.
The Denver Post was the first to report Jokic’s decision.
A Historic Season Despite Turmoil
The 30-year-old Jokic is coming off a groundbreaking season in which he became the first center in NBA history to average a triple-double over a full campaign: 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game.
He joined Russell Westbrook and Oscar Robertson as the only players to achieve the feat, finishing second in MVP voting behind Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The 2024-25 season was a turbulent one for the Nuggets. Head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth were dismissed with three games left in the regular season. Jokic and the team responded by winning their final three games, then outlasting the Los Angeles Clippers in a seven-game first-round series.
In the Western Conference semifinals, Denver pushed the eventual NBA champion Thunder to seven games before being eliminated. Jokic averaged 26.2 points and 12.7 rebounds during the postseason.
A second-round pick in 2014, Jokic has developed into a five-time All-NBA First Team selection. He led Denver to its first NBA title in 2023, earning Finals MVP honors.
New Era Begins in Denver
Jokic will enter the new season under head coach David Adelman, who was elevated from interim to permanent head coach following Malone’s dismissal.
The front office has also undergone restructuring, now led by executive vice presidents Ben Tenzer and Jonathan Wallace, who have pledged to remain aggressive in building a contender around their superstar.
The team’s boldest move this offseason was breaking up its longtime core by trading Michael Porter Jr. and a first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for forward Cam Johnson. Denver also re-signed Bruce Brown — a key contributor during their 2023 title run — and added veteran shooter Tim Hardaway Jr.
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term…Read More
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term… Read More
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