When Nikola Jokic failed to sign the contract extension that he was eligible for this summer, the alarm bells and panic button were being hit left and right by fans and media members alike. Even Dimitris Giannakopoulos, the owner of the Greek basketball club Panathinaikos in the EuroLeague, said he was going to chase after Jokic. But after today's 2026-27 media day for the Denver Nuggets, those alarm bells can stop ringing, and Nuggets fans can stop worrying. Jokic's here to stay!
The confirmation that every fan of the Nuggets has been waiting for was delivered directly from the horse's mouth when he was asked about his extension, and there was nothing to misinterpret.
"I'm going to sign next year," Jokic said directly. And he was in great spirits today, too, as he added a cheeky little "if they want me" to the end of his statement on the extension.
Of course they want you to! We want you to, too! And when he was pressed about why he was delaying his extension, Jokic kept his answer simple. "Business." Which is what most Nuggets fans had been thinking.
Jokic can sign an NBA record contract next summer and gain security
One of the things Jokic has always maintained is that he wants to finish his career with the Nuggets, and by delaying his extension another year, he has the chance to decline his team option and sign a new contract that comes with a no-trade clause. That's obviously part of his "business" stance. That security probably means a lot to Jokic, who seems to really love it in the Mile High City.
Of course, the other side of the "business" aspect is certainly money. Jokic is eligible to sign an NBA-record five-year, $359.5 million deal. That's a whopping $71.9 million average annual value. It's a no-brainer move for Jokic to wait. And he's under no obligation to sign for a penny less, like other stars such as Stephen Curry and Victor Wembanyama have done this summer.
The rumors should now die down, too
There have been plenty of rumors over the last month or so about other teams trying to swoop in for Jokic if the season goes bad, or if the Nuggets continue to have salary concerns (they will) moving forward. But even if those rumors continue to propagate on pure speculation alone, they can be ignored by Nuggets fans.
Jokic isn't going anywhere. He said it himself. We can all breathe a sigh of relief. We've got a special one in Joker. It's not every day in today's sports world that you can have one of the greatest to ever do it on your team from day one until they retire. Cover the panic button up. Jokic's not leaving!
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