NBA Trade Report: Nikola Jokic to delay contract extension talks with the Denver Nuggets until next summer

The Denver Nuggets have suffered a major blow regarding superstar Nikola Jokic, as it has emerged that the reigning MVP finalist will not sign a contract extension this summer and will wait until next season to make a decision.

Jokic currently has three years remaining on the five-year, $267 million contract extension he signed with the Nuggets in the summer of 2022. He was eligible to sign a three-year, $212 million extension this offseason.

According to The Denver Post, Jokic’s decision may be financially motivated. By waiting until next offseason, he would be eligible for a $292 million extension — $80 million more than what he would receive if he signed now.

NBA insider Marc Stein confirmed the report in a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter):

“Nikola Jokic has told the Denver Nuggets that he prefers to delay extension talks to next summer, when a maximum extension on his current deal could prove to be an estimated $80 million richer.”

Source close to the process confirms to @TheSteinLine what @BennettDurando reports below: Nikola Jokić has told the Nuggets that he prefers to delay extension talks to next summer, when a max extension on his current deal could prove to be an estimated $80 million richer. https://t.co/1JoE7glG8l

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 8, 2025

Nuggets president Josh Kroenke acknowledged that the team will still offer Jokic an extension, but understands why the star center may wait.

“We are definitely going to offer it. I’m not sure if he is going to accept it or not, because we are also going to explain every financial parameter around him signing now versus signing later. To be completely transparent, that’s the way we always are. And then he makes the best decision for himself and his family, and we will support him in it,” Kroenke said.

Jokic continues to cement his status as arguably the best player in the NBA, having averaged a triple-double for the entire 2024–25 season — only the second modern-era player after Russell Westbrook to achieve this. The 30-year-old averaged 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game and finished second in MVP voting behind Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He also became the first player since Larry Bird to finish in the top two in MVP voting for five consecutive seasons.

Despite Jokic’s dominance, the Nuggets underperformed in the 2024–25 NBA season, getting eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by eventual champions OKC Thunder.

In response, Denver’s front office has already begun reshaping the roster. They traded Michael Porter Jr. to the Brooklyn Nets for Cameron Johnson, sent Dario Saric to the Sacramento Kings for Jonas Valanciunas, re-signed Bruce Brown, and added Tim Hardaway Jr. in free agency — all in a bid to return to title contention next season.

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