Nikola Jokić delays Nuggets extension again, but insists he wants to finish his career in Denver

Nikola Jokić is preparing to keep his contract picture in flux for at least another year. After reports that he would not sign a new long-term extension with the Denver Nuggets this summer, Jokić addressed the situation publicly, reiterating a long-standing message: he wants to stay in Denver for the remainder of his career.

Asked about the timing, Jokić said his “idea” is to sign “next summer” and then remain with the Nuggets for the rest of his career. According to a translation of his comments reported through Nuggets-provided context, he framed the delay as “strictly business oriented,” adding that his preference is to stay and play in Denver, while indicating the decision also rests with the organization.

The comments come with obvious emotional weight for Nuggets fans, who have now watched a second off-season pass without a formal extension. The backdrop is familiar for Denver followers. Jokić is eligible to put more years and more money behind his long-term future, yet he has continued to postpone the deal, turning what is often a routine contract milestone into an annual topic of anxiety and speculation.

Financially, the stakes are substantial. Jokić, 31, is reported to have two years remaining on a five-year, 276 million supermax contract. Because that deal includes an opt-out next off-season ahead of its final year, the extension question is not just about comfort, it is also about leverage and long-range timing. In the most recent version of the story, the reported plan is to revisit an extension next summer rather than this one.

That choice is also shaping the Nuggets’ near-term planning environment. Even without any change in the level of play expected from a player of Jokić’s caliber, the roster-building math becomes harder for a front office when the center’s long-term commitment is not wrapped up. Denver has to balance retaining surrounding pieces, creating flexibility for future contracts, and preventing the roster from calcifying around a “maybe next year” scenario.

What should be watched next is straightforward but important. If Jokić follows through with the reported plan to negotiate next summer, it could bring at least a measure of certainty to Denver’s title-picture timeline and the team’s budgeting for subsequent seasons. If not, it will continue to test how the Nuggets manage risk in a league where star uncertainty can ripple through roster decisions, especially when the championship window is narrow and talent evaluation remains unforgiving.