You can take Nikola Jokić at his word, and he's said several times that he wants to retire with the Denver Nuggets. Still, because he declined to sign an extension last summer and plans to do so again this summer, the speculation is only on the rise. It will continue throughout the 2026-27 season, and although the team knows how their superstar center feels, there is still a layer of uncertainty given that he is holding off on signing a new contract.
It makes sense why Jokić is doing so, as he will be eligible for more money (an additional $80 million) and a fifth year next offseason. The front office should understand his reasoning for holding off yet again, just like it knows that he doesn't want to go anywhere.
The Nuggets don't have a real reason to worry about Jokić suddenly requesting a trade or opting out of his $62.8 million player option for the 2027-28 season to sign elsewhere. But every single game that Denver loses next season, you can bet that questions about his future will mount. And the first time that Denver loses consecutive games (gasp!), the mock trades will take over the internet.
It will be impossible to ignore.
Nuggets know how Jokić feels, but that won't stop the speculation
No one can guarantee without a shadow of a doubt that Jokić will sign another long-term deal with Denver next offseason. It's the NBA — anything is possible! And that alone is why the rumors will spiral out of control even if there is nothing concrete for them to go off of.
There is probably only a 0.1% chance that Jokić would actually leave Denver, but that's enough to keep opposing teams' hopes alive. Can you blame them for holding out that hope? We are talking about Nikola Jokić, after all.
Given who we're talking about, Jokić might prefer to retire rather than deal with the chaos that comes with a trade to a new team. Denver has been his only NBA home, and he hasn't indicated that he wants to leave. Even when he said this summer that he plans to re-sign next offseason, he reaffirmed that he wants to remain with the Nuggets.
Now, none of this means that the front office can get too comfortable with Jokić's repeated reassurances, not even after he signs a new contract. Their goal should still be to win another championship with him, no matter what it takes. I'm looking at the Kroenkes.
Jokić isn't going anywhere, so why not win some more with him? Starting this upcoming season, preferably! That'd do a lot for the speculation, too.
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