Nikola Jokic makes decision on contract extension with Nuggets

Nikola Jokic has made a decision regarding his contract extension with the Denver Nuggets.

Jokic on Tuesday became eligible for a contract extension with the Nuggets. The extension could have added three years and $212 million to his existing contract. However, Jokic informed the Nuggets he would not sign an extension this summer. Instead, he plans to delay his decision until next year, when he will be eligible to sign for even more money.

Jokic’s current contract is a 5-year, $276 million deal he signed in July 2022. He is set to make $55 million next season and $59 million the season after that. Jokic also has a $62.8 million player option for 2027-2028.

By waiting until next year, Jokic would be eligible to make $80 million more on his contract extension. The 30-year-old center was offered the opportunity to add an additional $212 million onto his contract now, but he has decided to wait until next year.

One has to wonder how much of Jokic’s decision has to do with money and how much is rooted in his uncertainty over the team’s future. The Nuggets finished tied for the third-best record in the West last season at 50-32. They lost in seven games in their conference semifinals series against the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder. Denver also fired Michael Malone, who had been the head coach of the Nuggets for Jokic’s entire career. Jokic made it clear that he felt the team was not good enough last season.

Jokic is a three-time NBA MVP. He averaged 29.6 points, 10.2 assists, 1.8 steals and 2.0 three-pointers made per game last season, all of which were career-high marks.