Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic. Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Nikola Jokic offers huge update about future plans with Nuggets

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Sep 29, 2025 3:12 PM ET

Center Nikola Jokic refused to sign a contract extension with the Denver Nuggets this summer.

Why is he keeping his options open?

Does he want out of Denver after it fired head coach Michael Malone and then lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs last season? The three-time MVP answered these questions about his future at media day on Monday.

Nikola Jokic makes it clear he wants to stay with the Nuggets

"My plan is to be a Nugget forever," Jokic said when asked about rejecting his contract extension. "So, that's my answer."

Jokic — entering the fourth year of a five-year, $276.12M contract — would've added three more years and $212M to his deal had he signed the extension in July. However, he could make even more next season. Bennett Durando of The Denver Post reported he could earn roughly $80M more if he signs an extension next summer.

"My plan is to be a Nugget forever."

- Nikola Jokic on not signing an extension this summer pic.twitter.com/kFtWgGyHO6
— DNVR Nuggets (@DNVR_Nuggets) September 29, 2025

Until then, the Nuggets must do a better job of building a championship-caliber squad around Jokic. Since winning their only championship during the 2022-23 season, the Nuggets haven't advanced past the second round of the postseason.

Jokic has been carrying the team during this span, winning one of his MVPs and making two All-Star games. Last season, he finished third in the league in points per game (29.6), third in rebounds per game (12.7) and second in assists per game (10.2).

The Nuggets got Jokic more help this offseason. They reunited with small forward Bruce Brown and traded small forward Michael Porter Jr. to the Brooklyn Nets for small forward Cam Johnson. The center is a fan of Johnson's jump shot.

"His release is really nice, really pretty," Jokic said, via DNVR Nuggets. "I want to shoot like that."

New head coach David Adelman remains the team's biggest question. He has no previous head-coaching experience but went 10-7 (including playoffs) as an interim last season.

Overall, it seems like the Nuggets shouldn't be too worried about Jokic. The 6-foot-11, 284-pounder seems happy in Denver for now.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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