Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets reacts during the third quarter of a Game 6 playoff loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on April 30, 2026.

Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets reacts during the third quarter of a 110-98 Game 6 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 30, 2026. The defeat eliminated the Nuggets from the playoffs. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

Nikola Jokić Plans To Sign Extension With Denver Nuggets Next Summer

Ashish MathurJuly 6, 2026 6:18 PMJuly 6, 2026 6:24 PM

Superstar center Nikola Jokić told reporters in Belgrade, Serbia, that he plans to sign an extension with the Denver Nuggets next summer.

Jokić is extension-eligible this summer, but he can make more money next summer. The three-time MVP will make $59 million next season and has a player option worth $62.8 million for the 2027-28 season.

In the summer of 2027, Jokić can sign a five-year, $359.5 million contract as a free agent after declining his 2027-28 player option. That contract would be the largest in NBA history.

“My idea is to sign next summer and stay with Denver for the rest of my career,” Jokić told reporters after Serbia defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina in a FIBA World Cup qualifying game. “My idea and my wish is to stay in Denver. I will most probably sign next summer. The decision is strictly business-oriented. My wish is to stay and play for Denver the rest of my career. It’s on them if they want me.”

The Nuggets won the 2023 championship against the Miami Heat in five games. Since then, they have lost in the second round of the playoffs twice and in the first round once.

Denver lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of this year’s playoffs in six games. Jokić averaged 25.8 points, 13.2 rebounds and 9.5 assists per game in the Timberwolves series, but he shot only 19.4% from beyond the arc and had 23 turnovers in six games.

An eight-time All-Star and future Hall of Famer, Jokić finished the 2025-26 regular season averaging 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.7 assists per game. He was an MVP finalist.

Jokić has been in the NBA since 2015. He holds career averages of 22.2 points, 11.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game in the regular season and 27.4 points, 12.4 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game in the playoffs. The 31-year-old was named Finals MVP in 2023.

Jokić’s supporting cast is Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Cameron Johnson and Christian Braun. It will be intriguing to see if the Nuggets make any big trades this summer.

Denver is interested in signing NBA legend LeBron James, who is a free agent for the first time since the summer of 2018. Nuggets owner Josh Kroenke and James are close friends. James and Jokić also have great respect for one another.