Jokic planning to be 'a Nugget forever' despite rejecting extension

Nikola Jokic isn't going anywhere.

The three-time MVP said Monday that he intends to see out his career with the Denver Nuggets despite rebuffing a max extension offer from the team over the summer.

"I think those contract extensions come as a reward, as something that is natural to the sport, especially in today's NBA. You see how the salary cap is going," Jokic told reporters, courtesy of DNVR. "My plan is to be a Nugget forever."

Jokic became eligible for a three-year, $212-million max extension this offseason but informed the Nuggets in July that he wouldn't sign the deal. By opting to wait until next summer, the Serbian center can instead sign a four-year extension worth just under $300 million.

The 30-year-old still has three seasons remaining on the five-year, $276-million supermax deal he signed in 2022. However, the pact's final year in 2027-28 hinges on a $62.8-million player option, and Denver isn't expected to let the seven-time All-NBA selection get that far without agreeing to a new contract.

Despite already winning three MVPs from 2021-24, Jokic produced a career year during the 2024-25 season. He became the first player to average a triple-double over an entire campaign and ranked third in the NBA scoring race with a career-high 29.6 points per game. However, Jokic finished runner-up in MVP voting to guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who led the Oklahoma City Thunder to the league's best record.