Nikola Jokic Declines Nuggets' Three-Year, $212M Extension Offer

[RealGM Wiretap]

Nikola Jokic has informed the Denver Nuggets he will decline their three-year, $212 million extension offer this offseason. Jokic can earn an additional $80 million by delaying an extension until the 2026 offseason. 

The Nuggets had anticipated that Jokic would likely decline the offer.

“We’re definitely going to offer it,” KSE vice chairman Josh Kroenke said in June. “I’m not sure if he’s going to accept it or not, because we’re 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’ll support him in it.”

Jokic has continued to play at an MVP level since leading the Nuggets to the championship in 2023. The Nuggets were eliminated in the second round each of the past two seasons. Jokic wanted the Nuggets to add depth to the team and he is reportedly pleased with their additions of Cam Johnson, Bruce Brown Jr., Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jonas Valanciunas.

Via Bennett Durando/Denver Post

[FreeBoosie]

Jokic to NYK confirmed!!

[Thechicagorilla]

Jokic to NYK confirmed!!

Nobody wants to play for new york

[Luv those Knicks]

Jokic to NYK confirmed!!

Nobody wants to play for new York

I'm going to disagree with both of you. Lots of players like NY, but Jokic is gambling on himself and he was expected to turn this down.

[LakersLegacy]

Jokic said after the coach was fired just before play-offs. That he could be next before he declined the extension.

[LakersLegacy]

Everything except Luka for Jokic

[LAKESHOW]

He Gone. The Nuggets had a window. These last 2 years they totally blew it with that Roster. Most likely a Laker to play with Doncic

[CarraT]

Players want a competitive team and win a ship but also want like 50% of the cap
Anyway, if there is one player in league who deserves the max-max contract, its Jokic. Best player of last 10 years.

[Thechicagorilla]

Jokic to NYK confirmed!!

Nobody wants to play for new York

I'm going to disagree with both of you. Lots of players like NY, but Jokic is gambling on himself and he was expected to turn this down.

What’s there to like about playing or even living in New York. There’s a reason you guys can’t ever get free agents to sign that aren’t from New York

[Thechicagorilla]

He Gone. The Nuggets had a window. These last 2 years they totally blew it with that Roster. Most likely a Laker to play with Doncic

He wants to win… not be a part of the LeBron bronny media circus in LA. You see how pissed Luka was to get traded there

[Luv those Knicks]

Nobody wants to play for new York

I'm going to disagree with both of you. Lots of players like NY, but Jokic is gambling on himself and he was expected to turn this down.

What’s there to like about playing or even living in New York. There’s a reason you guys can’t ever get free agents to sign that aren’t from New York

Do I really need to answer that?

KG wanted to come to NY. Kyrie had to talk him into going to Brooklyn. Which is funny because Kyrie disliked Brooklyn just a few years later.

Dwayne Wade commented on how good NY's sales pitch was. He went back to Miami and teamed up with the super friends, but he was very impressed after meeting with NY.

The NBA is an unfair system. Teams like the Lakers, Miami (on the beach) and NY will always be a draw. Now that Dolan has taken a step back and NY has a real GM, NY is going to be a draw to top free agents once they have some cap space.

The good news for the other teams is that, when a team drafts a player, they can pay them the most, so the top players are usually resigned by their teams, and the NBA hasn't had a top 5 player become a free agent for several years. But when the next top free agent enters the market, and if the Knicks have cap space - watch out. We'll be a top consideration.

You might not like New York, but the fact is, and it is a fact, now that the Knicks are wining, they're among the top destinations.

[NoStatsGuy]

I'm going to disagree with both of you. Lots of players like NY, but Jokic is gambling on himself and he was expected to turn this down.

What’s there to like about playing or even living in New York. There’s a reason you guys can’t ever get free agents to sign that aren’t from New York

Do I really need to answer that?

KG wanted to come to NY. Kyrie had to talk him into going to Brooklyn. Which is funny because Kyrie disliked Brooklyn just a few years later.

Dwayne Wade commented on how good NY's sales pitch was. He went back to Miami and teamed up with the super friends, but he was very impressed after meeting with NY.

The NBA is an unfair system. Teams like the Lakers, Miami (on the beach) and NY will always be a draw. Now that Dolan has taken a step back and NY has a real GM, NY is going to be a draw to top free agents once they have some cap space.

The good news for the other teams is that, when a team drafts a player, they can pay them the most, so the top players are usually resigned by their teams, and the NBA hasn't had a top 5 player become a free agent for several years. But when the next top free agent enters the market, and if the Knicks have cap space - watch out. We'll be a top consideration.

You might not like New York, but the fact is, and it is a fact, now that the Knicks are wining, they're among the top destinations.

aside from the franchise being greatly recovered, lots of players have advertisment and branding opportunities, they wouldnt have in any other city. especially for example if it comes to people that want to work in media after their playing career.

i understand the weather is not sunshine and rainbows all the time, i also understand texas and florida are good draws these days because of the taxes for example. Free agents not comming has never been related to NY as a city, it was always the dysfunction and dolan. at least generally. of course their might have been SOME cases where some players said "nah ny is not for me". but thats most likely vet mins, role players or whatever.. not the big names. because the money you can make outside of basketball probably cant be topped.

[TheCage4]

While it's very unlikely, I would not be surprised to see Jokic just walk away.

He has nothing left to prove as a multiple time MVP and an NBA champion. He has more money than most can dream of and other interests outside of basketball and the USA.

[MegaK]

Yo everyone know he going to Knick bro!

[engelmartin]

And it begins. From now on all the casual bandwagoners will say “come to the warriors!” on every single post about Jokic. Although on RealGM that’s Knicks fans apparently

[Thechicagorilla]

What’s there to like about playing or even living in New York. There’s a reason you guys can’t ever get free agents to sign that aren’t from New York

Do I really need to answer that?

KG wanted to come to NY. Kyrie had to talk him into going to Brooklyn. Which is funny because Kyrie disliked Brooklyn just a few years later.

Dwayne Wade commented on how good NY's sales pitch was. He went back to Miami and teamed up with the super friends, but he was very impressed after meeting with NY.

The NBA is an unfair system. Teams like the Lakers, Miami (on the beach) and NY will always be a draw. Now that Dolan has taken a step back and NY has a real GM, NY is going to be a draw to top free agents once they have some cap space.

The good news for the other teams is that, when a team drafts a player, they can pay them the most, so the top players are usually resigned by their teams, and the NBA hasn't had a top 5 player become a free agent for several years. But when the next top free agent enters the market, and if the Knicks have cap space - watch out. We'll be a top consideration.

You might not like New York, but the fact is, and it is a fact, now that the Knicks are wining, they're among the top destinations.

aside from the franchise being greatly recovered, lots of players have advertisment and branding opportunities, they wouldnt have in any other city. especially for example if it comes to people that want to work in media after their playing career.

i understand the weather is not sunshine and rainbows all the time, i also understand texas and florida are good draws these days because of the taxes for example. Free agents not comming has never been related to NY as a city, it was always the dysfunction and dolan. at least generally. of course their might have been SOME cases where some players said "nah ny is not for me". but thats most likely vet mins, role players or whatever.. not the big names. because the money you can make outside of basketball probably cant be topped.

Although I agree with it mostly being Dolan repelling free agents, it’s 2025 not 1995, those same opportunities are available in small markets. Social media has taken over. Look at guys like SGA, Giannis, even dame in Portland

[Luv those Knicks]

Nobody wants to play for new York

I'm going to disagree with both of you. Lots of players like NY, but Jokic is gambling on himself and he was expected to turn this down.

What’s there to like about playing or even living in New York. There’s a reason you guys can’t ever get free agents to sign that aren’t from New York

I don't know if you're trying to be funny, or if you really believe the things you're saying or if you're just trying to put down the team I root for and the city I grew up in.

You're entitled to your opinion, but stating your opinion as a statement of fact when that statement is obviously false, is uninteresting to me.

Besides, this is a thread about Jokic. So, lets go back to the subject in the title.

I'm putting you on ignore now.

[Luv those Knicks]

Do I really need to answer that?

KG wanted to come to NY. Kyrie had to talk him into going to Brooklyn. Which is funny because Kyrie disliked Brooklyn just a few years later.

Dwayne Wade commented on how good NY's sales pitch was. He went back to Miami and teamed up with the super friends, but he was very impressed after meeting with NY.

The NBA is an unfair system. Teams like the Lakers, Miami (on the beach) and NY will always be a draw. Now that Dolan has taken a step back and NY has a real GM, NY is going to be a draw to top free agents once they have some cap space.

The good news for the other teams is that, when a team drafts a player, they can pay them the most, so the top players are usually resigned by their teams, and the NBA hasn't had a top 5 player become a free agent for several years. But when the next top free agent enters the market, and if the Knicks have cap space - watch out. We'll be a top consideration.

You might not like New York, but the fact is, and it is a fact, now that the Knicks are wining, they're among the top destinations.

aside from the franchise being greatly recovered, lots of players have advertisment and branding opportunities, they wouldnt have in any other city. especially for example if it comes to people that want to work in media after their playing career.

i understand the weather is not sunshine and rainbows all the time, i also understand texas and florida are good draws these days because of the taxes for example. Free agents not comming has never been related to NY as a city, it was always the dysfunction and dolan. at least generally. of course their might have been SOME cases where some players said "nah ny is not for me". but thats most likely vet mins, role players or whatever.. not the big names. because the money you can make outside of basketball probably cant be topped.

Although I agree with it mostly being Dolan repelling free agents, it’s 2025 not 1995, those same opportunities are available in small markets. Social media has taken over. Look at guys like SGA, Giannis, even dame in Portland

NY has supermodels. It has the top restaurants. It has many clubs. If you care about those things, and not all basketball players do, but if they do, NY still stands apart. Miami & LA aren't bad in those venue's either, but NY is still the top. If you hate winter, then I can see choosing a more temperate location.

and I'm sure that other NBA locations have fancy clubs and fine restaurants too, but the number available in NY is far higher.

But I also agree with you. I don't think players like Luka (when he was in Dallas) or Giannis are hurting for endorsements because of where they play/played. I don't know if they'd get more endorsement money in NY. I don't know how that works. But I don't think they were lacking endorsements in other locations.

The Garden also has more stars sitting courtside . . . again, not everyone will care about that, but it's still true.

[NoStatsGuy]

aside from the franchise being greatly recovered, lots of players have advertisment and branding opportunities, they wouldnt have in any other city. especially for example if it comes to people that want to work in media after their playing career.

i understand the weather is not sunshine and rainbows all the time, i also understand texas and florida are good draws these days because of the taxes for example. Free agents not comming has never been related to NY as a city, it was always the dysfunction and dolan. at least generally. of course their might have been SOME cases where some players said "nah ny is not for me". but thats most likely vet mins, role players or whatever.. not the big names. because the money you can make outside of basketball probably cant be topped.

Although I agree with it mostly being Dolan repelling free agents, it’s 2025 not 1995, those same opportunities are available in small markets. Social media has taken over. Look at guys like SGA, Giannis, even dame in Portland

NY has supermodels. It has the top restaurants. It has many clubs. If you care about those things, and not all basketball players do, but if they do, NY still stands apart. Miami & LA aren't bad in those venue's either, but NY is still the top. If you hate winter, then I can see choosing a more temperate location.

and I'm sure that other NBA locations have fancy clubs and fine restaurants too, but the number available in NY is far higher.

But I also agree with you. I don't think players like Luka (when he was in Dallas) or Giannis are hurting for endorsements because of where they play/played. I don't know if they'd get more endorsement money in NY. I don't know how that works. But I don't think they were lacking endorsements in other locations.

The Garden also has more stars sitting courtside . . . again, not everyone will care about that, but it's still true.

yea that was kinda the point. For the big names endorsements arent a dealbreaker obviously.

but a rotation guy definitely has more opportunities in NY.

[Luv those Knicks]

yea that was kinda the point. For the big names endorsements arent a dealbreaker obviously.

but a rotation guy definitely has more opportunities in NY.

That's a reasonable argument, and you may be right.

I'm still curious where the next top free agent goes, the next time there's a bunch of teams with cap room.

I'm not talking about Myles Turner, who signed for well under max, or players who re-sign with their own teams, but the next Kevin Durant, LeBron James or Shaq who were top players and no brainers at a max deal. KD got hurt, so maybe he wasn't in that category, I don't remember the exact timing, but every team in the league probably reached out to LeBron's or Shaq's Agent when they were free agents.

They chose LA & MIami - both cities are draws. KD chose Brooklyn though he reportedly was interested in the Knicks. I still think NY can be a draw too, even if it lacks the sunshine of Cali or Florida, but I'm not sure when the next big free agent will hit the open market or when NY or LA might have cap space to entice a top player.

The league has also changed a bit. Teams seem more likely to resign their own players. The off-seasons of, say, KD and Irving or Wade, Bosh and LeBron seeking a team in free agency doesn't happen very often. Last year Paul George was a top free agent and he's been a great player, but he was too old when Philly signed him and he didn't give them much.

I don't think it will be Jokic, who seems happy in Denver and probably extends there. Maybe I'm wrong, but he seems happy in Denver.

As for NY being attractive to mid-level free agents, that's nice, but it's not the same as landing the next top player. That will be interesting to see when it happens next.