Nikola Jokic Turns Heads With Final Decision on Nuggets Contract Extension originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Denver Nuggets have had a successful offseason already by just about any measure, though the team received unfortunate news from its superstar center on Tuesday, July 8.

Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic made the franchise aware of his plans to decline a contract extension this summer, despite his eligibility for a maximum deal worth $212 million over three years.

“Nikola Jokic has informed the Nuggets he won’t sign a contract extension this offseason, team sources told [the Denver Post],” Bennett Durando reported via his X account on Tuesday. “Here’s why it makes sense to wait.”

Jokic is currently under contract through 2027-28 on a five-year deal worth $276.1 million, which includes a player option worth $62.8 million in the final season.

By waiting until the summer of 2026, Jokic can up his extension by approximately $80 million in total, per Durando.

The Nuggets center, who is also a former champion, has played in the NBA for 10 years. He will turn 31 in February 2026.

Jokic currently boasts career averages of 21.8 points, 10.9 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He averaged a triple-double last season with 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, 10.2 assists and 1.8 steals, though didn’t win his fourth MVP despite that relatively ridiculous level of production.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic.

That honor went to Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, whose team bested Jokic and the Nuggets in a seven-game bout during Round 2 of the Western Conference playoffs. The Thunder went on to win the title by defeating the Indiana Pacers in a seven-game series during the NBA Finals.

Major moves the Nuggets have executed this summer in their attempt to catch up with the Thunder include trading Michael Porter Jr. and a future first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for Cam Johnson in what was partially a salary dump but also could prove beneficial to the team’s on-court chemistry and success.

Denver also traded Dario Saric to the Sacramento Kings for backup center Jonas Valanciunas and signed Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. to one-year deals in free agency.