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'I Might Retire': Nikola Jokic’s 2022 Message Surfaces After Rejecting Nuggets' Offer

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ayomide Adeduyite | Last updated Jul 31, 2025 9:31 PM ET

Nikola Jokic’s NBA legacy is already secure. A three-time MVP, NBA champion, and widely regarded as one of the most unique talents the league has ever seen, Jokic has transformed the center position with his elite playmaking and court vision. While Jokic has continued to dominate on the court, his love for basketball has often been brought to question.

Recently, a video of Jokic tearing up after his horse won a race in Serbia went viral, sparking conversations about his passion for the sport. The footage, which shows Jokic emotional after his horse Demon Dell’Est won a race at Subotica’s annual Dužijanac event, quickly made rounds on social media.

Fans joked that the Serbian star, known for his reserved demeanor on the court, showed more emotion at the stables than after winning an NBA title. The video further fed into the narrative that Jokic treats basketball more like a pastime – and could retire sooner than later.

DeMarcus Cousins Reveals Nikola Jokic Mentioned Retirement

That perception gained more weight when DeMarcus Cousins, who briefly played with Jokic on the Denver Nuggets, shared a story during an appearance on the Straight Game Podcast. According to Cousins, Jokic seriously considered retiring rather than signing the supermax contract extension looming for him.

“He’ll let you know he really don’t give a [expletive] about this [expletive],” Cousins said. “Our lockers were next to each other—he said, 'I think I might retire after this contract.'"

Demarcus Cousins says Nikola Jokic considered retirement instead of signing a Supermax deal with the Nuggets pic.twitter.com/4UaKA5V85I
— Straight Game Podcast (@straightgamepod) July 31, 2025

Nikola Jokic Declined Denver Nuggets' Extension Offer

Cousins’ revelation follows a recent report from the Denver Post that Jokic declined a contract extension from the Denver Nuggets earlier this offseason. However, this decision is not believed to be tied to retirement plans or departure from the Nuggets, but a financially strategic move, as waiting until the end of the summer could allow Jokic to sign a more lucrative deal under the league’s updated salary cap structure.

"However, he can tack on an extra season and earn an additional $80 million, approximately, by pushing off an extension until the 2026 offseason," the Denver Post reported. "The Nuggets presented both options to Jokic in conversations with him and his representation. Jokic’s camp elected to delay — a decision that Nuggets leadership was anticipating because of the money on the table, team sources said. If Jokic signs his max extension next summer, he would be under contract until 2031, when he’ll be 36 years old."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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