Nikola Jokic is once again thinking about not signing his Nuggets extension.
The three-time MVP is eligible for a new contract this summer but is considering passing on it, per Marc Stein and Jake Fischer at The Stein Line. If Jokic waits, he would be in line to hit free agency in 2027 with full leverage over his next destination.
This is the same move Jokic made last year. He passed on the extension then too. That decision didn’t lead to him leaving, and this one probably won’t either. But it does create noise in a market that is desperate for any superstar storyline.
The financial logic for waiting actually favors the player. By signing in 2027 instead of this summer, Jokic could lock in a much larger overall number based on the new TV deal and a higher cap. That is real money on the table for a 30-year-old who has won three MVPs.
But the bigger reason might be roster construction. By not signing now, Jokic gives Denver more cap flexibility to add help around him. Less luxury tax pressure, more roster moves available. That is the kind of thing Jokic has reportedly cared about throughout his career. He wants to win.
He also made it clear after the team’s playoff exit that he does not believe Denver is currently close to a championship. That quote should still be ringing in the ears of the Nuggets front office. The clock to keep their MVP happy is loud.
Denver’s challenge is real. Jamal Murray is still good but not elite. Aaron Gordon is solid but not a difference maker. The supporting cast has gotten thinner every year as the front office has had to dump role players to stay under the second apron. Jokic carries them, but he cannot do it alone in May.
By delaying the extension, Jokic effectively keeps pressure on his front office. He is not threatening to leave. He is just leaving the door slightly open in case the next 12 months do not go well. That is smart leverage, and the Nuggets front office understands the message.
From a pure business standpoint, the move also avoids tying himself to Denver before the next CBA cycle plays out. If the new TV money causes a major cap spike in 2027, Jokic gets the largest possible piece of it. If it does not, he can still take Denver’s deal then. Win-win for him.
There is no indication Jokic actually wants to leave. None. He has always seemed perfectly content in Denver, far from the spotlight, focused on his horses and his family. That has not changed publicly. But superstars who win MVPs typically get what they want, and Jokic is using the only language that consistently works in the NBA: contract leverage.
Jokic is set to make just over $59 million next season. He has a player option for 2027-28. If he does not sign a new deal this summer, his entire long-term future is in his own hands by next July.
The Nuggets cannot do much except keep building. They need a real upgrade somewhere on the roster to make Jokic feel like the title window is open again. If they get that done, Jokic signs. If not, this story gets much more interesting in a year.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
