Nikola Jokic stays one of the fascinating gamers within the NBA. He is among the many finest within the league, with no scarcity of spotlight reels of ridiculous pictures and passes. Nevertheless, it virtually looks as if basketball is his facet hustle. He is received three MVP awards, but was way more emotional when his horse won a race. When the Denver Nuggets received the championship in 2023, Jokic was openly distressed that he needed to keep on the town a number of further days for the parade. If he had it his method, he’d probably be completely happy residing a calmer life in Serbia.
In fact, there are many advantages to enjoying within the NBA, specifically monetary safety. The lure of tons of of thousands and thousands of {dollars} is hard to show down. But that is precisely what Jokic has carried out this summer time.
Jokic is eligible to signal a three-year contract extension value as much as $212 million. He stated no—here is why that is a sensible transfer.
Dustin Bradford/Getty Photos
Let’s bounce again to 2022. Jokic had simply received his second MVP award, and he was eligible for a supermax contract. On the time, it was the biggest deal in NBA historical past: 5 years, $276 million. And Jokic virtually turned that down.
DeMarcus Cousins, who briefly performed on the Nuggets alongside Jokic, recalled the superstar saying he was contemplating retiring reasonably than signing that contract. Cousins stated he inspired Jokic to signal the deal, even suggesting he may, within the worst case situation, “get fats” and use the cash to purchase extra horses.
Jokic did find yourself signing that extension, and the Nuggets received the championship the next yr.
This offseason, Denver’s entrance workplace introduced two choices to Jokic: this deal he turned down, and a second one which he may signal subsequent offseason. That contract would add one other yr and about $80 million, so Jokic may signal a four-year, $292 million extension.
The Nuggets had been clear about each choices, and Jokic was clear in his response. He’d reasonably wait one other yr to safe a bigger deal.
Final season, the 30-year-old Jokic turned the primary heart (and solely third participant) in NBA historical past to common a triple-double for the whole season. He completed with averages of 29.6 factors, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per recreation. The Nuggets received their opening spherical sequence towards the Los Angeles Clippers and took the eventual champion Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder to seven video games within the second spherical.
After the playoffs, Jokic declared the Nuggets as constructed weren’t ok to win the championship. Denver has had a busy offseason, swapping Michael Porter Jr. for Cam Johnson and signing Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway to contracts. Brown was a key contributor to Denver’s title run in 2023.
Will all of it be sufficient for Jokic to re-sign subsequent summer time? In any case, quite a bit can occur in a yr—like incomes an additional $80 million.
