Nikola Jokic has informed the Nuggets he won't sign a contract extension this offseason

[Ito]

This always get talked about but has any one star or not ever left their team following a contract that had an extension (extra year or two) unless they got traded

[makubesu]

Panathinaikos is at it again

[zimpy27]

The worst financial option for Jokic is signing an this summer. Yes, not signing an extension creates the possibility of never signing an extension (that will be the case until he signs one), but it's basically understood by every agent, NBA exec, and cap savvy media member that Jokic wouldn't be signing an extension this summer. Even Denver acknowledged that offering it was a formality and they knew he wouldn't sign it now because it doesn't make sense.

That's not to say Jokic would never consider leaving Denver, it's just that him not signing an extension this summer isn't an indication of that. The only reason it's even news is because it's an opportunity for click bait speculation from those gossip types of media outlets (most NBA media, haha).

But then next summer in 2026, the worst financial option for Jokic is to sign an extension. He would get more money to extend in 2027. But then in 2027 he can opt out and hit Unrestricted Free Agency. And he's played 10+ years so he's making 35% wherever he goes.

I'm just saying, looks like he's headed for free agency. He still might resign in Denver but he could also leave

I get the logic obviously, but he will sign a contract at some point. Free agency is possible, but that star players of this level almost never hit free agency anymore. Most MVP-level players in their primes time their extension, rather than signing it the second they become eligible.

The other user was just pointing out that Jokic not signing an extension isn't actually real news, unexpected or indicative of anything. Yes, Jokic could absolutely leave at some point. It's just that not signing this extension has almost nothing to do with that either way.

I guess I disagree.

I see him not signing now because he makes more logic next offseason is the same logic as to why he won't sign next offseason.

I think Jokic is in the category of player that even if he did his Achilles you'd have most teams out there giving him a 4 year 35% max deal offer. He doesn't have on worry about locking on most years until he has a substantial dip in production over the course of a couple seasons.

I think this is a sign that he tests free agency in 2027.

[chilluminati]

This one is easy. If he signs this offseason, he takes a more team friendly deal that could position them for other acquisitions perhaps. Or, he signs next summer for the max amount he can earn for his own sake. And there is nothing wrong with either avenue, Kroenke has already stated that they'll respect his decision either way he wants to do it.

He decided to take what his full value is next summer.

[Rubios]

Jokic and Giannis can opt out at the same time. Not saying they will team up but it would be amazing if they did

It would be almost a cheat code.

[Rubios]

Schrodinger's Jokic

The guy who doesn't care about anything cares about either money or winning

Don't know if trolling -in a good way-. It has been discussed a bazillion times.

Jokic cares A LOT about basketball and winning because...

1- He makes huge, huge money by doing it. It's his job, but it's just professional to take it very seriously when you are one of the top 0,001% earning pros and your performance and success makes hundreds of thousands of people happy or sad.

2- OBVIOUSLY he loves basketball.

He is just a regular, normal dude. As it would happen to... me, fame, being in the spotlight, media... is very annoying to him.

[Woodsanity]

Jokic is basically admitting he needs better teammates to win. He's not that guy.

He already won one unlike the chubby on the Lakers. Keep running.

[LeBronSpaghetti]

Lakers have not made it a secret they are making cap room for 2026.

With Jokic now verbally saying he won't sign an extension, he is fair game. You already know what time it is.

You think Jokic sucks though. That’s been your schtick for years. Why would you want him on the Lakers?

[LeBronSpaghetti]

People seem to be downplaying this. But it's obviously far better if he signed than he didn't.

He doesn't really earn much more money by waiting. He declined the deal because he wants his option to leave.

$80 million = “not much more money”

Brand dead take after brain dead take in here.

[LeBronSpaghetti]

But then next summer in 2026, the worst financial option for Jokic is to sign an extension. He would get more money to extend in 2027. But then in 2027 he can opt out and hit Unrestricted Free Agency. And he's played 10+ years so he's making 35% wherever he goes.

I'm just saying, looks like he's headed for free agency. He still might resign in Denver but he could also leave

I get the logic obviously, but he will sign a contract at some point. Free agency is possible, but that star players of this level almost never hit free agency anymore. Most MVP-level players in their primes time their extension, rather than signing it the second they become eligible.

The other user was just pointing out that Jokic not signing an extension isn't actually real news, unexpected or indicative of anything. Yes, Jokic could absolutely leave at some point. It's just that not signing this extension has almost nothing to do with that either way.

I guess I disagree.

I see him not signing now because he makes more logic next offseason is the same logic as to why he won't sign next offseason.

I think Jokic is in the category of player that even if he did his Achilles you'd have most teams out there giving him a 4 year 35% max deal offer. He doesn't have on worry about locking on most years until he has a substantial dip in production over the course of a couple seasons.

I think this is a sign that he tests free agency in 2027.

Then maybe he won’t sign next offseason either? Maybe he’ll sign the off-season after that. Who cares? We’re talking about a guy who’s still under contract for multiple years. Why would he sign now when he could sign later and make significantly more money? It makes absolutely zero sense to sign today. None.

[zimpy27]

People seem to be downplaying this. But it's obviously far better if he signed than he didn't.

He doesn't really earn much more money by waiting. He declined the deal because he wants his option to leave.

$80 million = “not much more money”

Brand dead take after brain dead take in here.

Thats just from the extra year of extension by waiting a year to extend. It's not actually more money per year. Jokic will earn $80m in the 31-32 season but he can't extend until then this offseason (only next). But to say that it's $80m more is to say that you don't think Jokic gets paid any money in 2031-32 season after this contract. Which is just not true. In fact he probably extends again in 2027 if he did extend this offseason. And that extension would go to 2032-33 season and earn him $85m more than extending next summer.

Extension This Summer
2028-29: $63,851,550
2029-30: $68,959,674
2030-31: $74,067,798
Total: 3 years, $206,879,022

Extension Next Summer
2028-29: $63,851,550
2029-30: $68,959,674
2030-31: $74,067,798
2031-32: $79,175,922
Total: 4 years, $286,054,944

[zimpy27]

I get the logic obviously, but he will sign a contract at some point. Free agency is possible, but that star players of this level almost never hit free agency anymore. Most MVP-level players in their primes time their extension, rather than signing it the second they become eligible.

The other user was just pointing out that Jokic not signing an extension isn't actually real news, unexpected or indicative of anything. Yes, Jokic could absolutely leave at some point. It's just that not signing this extension has almost nothing to do with that either way.

I guess I disagree.

I see him not signing now because he makes more logic next offseason is the same logic as to why he won't sign next offseason.

I think Jokic is in the category of player that even if he did his Achilles you'd have most teams out there giving him a 4 year 35% max deal offer. He doesn't have on worry about locking on most years until he has a substantial dip in production over the course of a couple seasons.

I think this is a sign that he tests free agency in 2027.

Then maybe he won’t sign next offseason either? Maybe he’ll sign the off-season after that. Who cares? We’re talking about a guy who’s still under contract for multiple years. Why would he sign now when he could sign later and make significantly more money? It makes absolutely zero sense to sign today. None.

The same logic of not signing today is the same logic as not signing next offseason. That's all I'm saying.
We are going to see Jokic without an extension in 2027 hitting unrestricted free agency. Unless he changes his logic.


I think this is something newsworthy. Put it this way, Giannis signed an extension at same point in career that Jokic is right now. Jokic hasn't signed that same extension that Giannis did.

[cupcakesnake]

People seem to be downplaying this. But it's obviously far better if he signed than he didn't.

He doesn't really earn much more money by waiting. He declined the deal because he wants his option to leave.

$80 million = “not much more money”

Brand dead take after brain dead take in here.

Thats just from the extra year of extension by waiting a year to extend. It's not actually more money per year. Jokic will earn $80m in the 31-32 season but he can't extend until then this offseason (only next). But to say that it's $80m more is to say that you don't think Jokic gets paid any money in 2031-32 season after this contract. Which is just not true. In fact he probably extends again in 2027 if he did extend this offseason. And that extension would go to 2032-33 season and earn him $85m more than extending next summer.

Extension This Summer
2028-29: $63,851,550
2029-30: $68,959,674
2030-31: $74,067,798
Total: 3 years, $206,879,022

Extension Next Summer
2028-29: $63,851,550
2029-30: $68,959,674
2030-31: $74,067,798
2031-32: $79,175,922
Total: 4 years, $286,054,944

This really depends on how much you think Jokic's contract after his one will be. Would he sign for 80m year as a 36/37-year old? Will Jokic even wants to keep playing in his late 30s? You hit 38 and you can't sign huge extensions anymore, so even if Jokic wanted to play for as long as possible, getting out of his next contract at age 36 is the sweet spot.

It's common for super high-level players to line up their contract extension to make sure there being paid big dollars past their prime, by signing at the right moment. If they have that option.

[zimpy27]

$80 million = “not much more money”

Brand dead take after brain dead take in here.

Thats just from the extra year of extension by waiting a year to extend. It's not actually more money per year. Jokic will earn $80m in the 31-32 season but he can't extend until then this offseason (only next). But to say that it's $80m more is to say that you don't think Jokic gets paid any money in 2031-32 season after this contract. Which is just not true. In fact he probably extends again in 2027 if he did extend this offseason. And that extension would go to 2032-33 season and earn him $85m more than extending next summer.

Extension This Summer
2028-29: $63,851,550
2029-30: $68,959,674
2030-31: $74,067,798
Total: 3 years, $206,879,022

Extension Next Summer
2028-29: $63,851,550
2029-30: $68,959,674
2030-31: $74,067,798
2031-32: $79,175,922
Total: 4 years, $286,054,944

This really depends on how much you think Jokic's contract after his one will be. Would he sign for 80m year as a 36/37-year old? Will Jokic even wants to keep playing in his late 30s? You hit 38 and you can't sign huge extensions anymore, so even if Jokic wanted to play for as long as possible, getting out of his next contract at age 36 is the sweet spot.

It's common for super high-level players to line up their contract extension to make sure there being paid big dollars past their prime, by signing at the right moment. If they have that option.

But if he signed an extension this summer with a PO. Then he'd be eligible to signing another extension in 2027. Plus he's still awhile away from 38. I think Jokic is the only player since LeBron that I think he can take over a game completely and consistently. Giannis is close. These guys will probably always get a max deal like LeBron does. At least until they decline to not making All NBA teams.

So I think the only reason to not sign an extension is because he's not 100% happy with Denver. I mean they fired their coach and let important role players walk.

[cupcakesnake]

Thats just from the extra year of extension by waiting a year to extend. It's not actually more money per year. Jokic will earn $80m in the 31-32 season but he can't extend until then this offseason (only next). But to say that it's $80m more is to say that you don't think Jokic gets paid any money in 2031-32 season after this contract. Which is just not true. In fact he probably extends again in 2027 if he did extend this offseason. And that extension would go to 2032-33 season and earn him $85m more than extending next summer.

Extension This Summer
2028-29: $63,851,550
2029-30: $68,959,674
2030-31: $74,067,798
Total: 3 years, $206,879,022

Extension Next Summer
2028-29: $63,851,550
2029-30: $68,959,674
2030-31: $74,067,798
2031-32: $79,175,922
Total: 4 years, $286,054,944

This really depends on how much you think Jokic's contract after his one will be. Would he sign for 80m year as a 36/37-year old? Will Jokic even wants to keep playing in his late 30s? You hit 38 and you can't sign huge extensions anymore, so even if Jokic wanted to play for as long as possible, getting out of his next contract at age 36 is the sweet spot.

It's common for super high-level players to line up their contract extension to make sure there being paid big dollars past their prime, by signing at the right moment. If they have that option.

But if he signed an extension this summer with a PO. Then he'd be eligible to signing another extension in 2027. Plus he's still awhile away from 38. I think Jokic is the only player since LeBron that I think he can take over a game completely and consistently. Giannis is close. These guys will probably always get a max deal like LeBron does. At least until they decline to not making All NBA teams.

So I think the only reason to not sign an extension is because he's not 100% happy with Denver. I mean they fired their coach and let important role players walk.

I'd agree with you if this was 2015 instead of 2025. Players used to use free agency as the primary tool for player freedom. Now they just demand trades. It's so rare for contending teams to have cap room anymore. Even guys who have been unhappy have opted to sign for the most money they can.

Btw, I'm not saying Jokic is happy or unhappy in Denver. I simply disagree with his extension timing being a indicating factor.

Jokic is under contract for a few more years. If he doesn't sign it next season, I'll start having the thoughts your having. For now, IMO you're a little early. Basically I think you're an ESPN hype best gossip monger ;P

[mkot]

A recent interview with Jokić closest friend and teammate in Denver

Read on Twitter

[zimpy27]

This really depends on how much you think Jokic's contract after his one will be. Would he sign for 80m year as a 36/37-year old? Will Jokic even wants to keep playing in his late 30s? You hit 38 and you can't sign huge extensions anymore, so even if Jokic wanted to play for as long as possible, getting out of his next contract at age 36 is the sweet spot.

It's common for super high-level players to line up their contract extension to make sure there being paid big dollars past their prime, by signing at the right moment. If they have that option.

But if he signed an extension this summer with a PO. Then he'd be eligible to signing another extension in 2027. Plus he's still awhile away from 38. I think Jokic is the only player since LeBron that I think he can take over a game completely and consistently. Giannis is close. These guys will probably always get a max deal like LeBron does. At least until they decline to not making All NBA teams.

So I think the only reason to not sign an extension is because he's not 100% happy with Denver. I mean they fired their coach and let important role players walk.

I'd agree with you if this was 2015 instead of 2025. Players used to use free agency as the primary tool for player freedom. Now they just demand trades. It's so rare for contending teams to have cap room anymore. Even guys who have been unhappy have opted to sign for the most money they can.

Btw, I'm not saying Jokic is happy or unhappy in Denver. I simply disagree with his extension timing being a indicating factor.

Jokic is under contract for a few more years. If he doesn't sign it next season, I'll start having the thoughts your having. For now, IMO you're a little early. Basically I think you're an ESPN hype best gossip monger ;P

I still think Jokic stays with Denver (60% probable) but I think he re-ups a new contract in 2027. And there's a 40% chance he leaves.

[bowery77]

Lots of extensions around the league...

[Han Solo]

He’s coming to to the Pistons because of his Darko connections.

[BelgradeNugget]

Lakers have not made it a secret they are making cap room for 2026.

With Jokic now verbally saying he won't sign an extension, he is fair game. You already know what time it is.

You think Jokic sucks though. That’s been your schtick for years. Why would you want him on the Lakers?

He thinks Jokic sucks because he is not on the Lakers.
This is not the first time he hopes Jokic joins the Lakers.
I think he prays every night for this to happen.