Overview
- Jokić told reporters on Monday that he plans to sign a new deal next year but added the qualifier “if they want me,” making his commitment conditional.
- By waiting to sign Jokić preserves eligibility for a projected five-year contract worth about $360 million instead of the shorter four-year extension that was available this offseason.
- Nuggets executive Ben Tenzer said the organization has no concerns about Jokić’s decision and described the relationship as comfortable and based on trust.
- Denver’s roster construction and 2026–27 performance are now framed as decisive factors because another weak postseason could increase Jokić’s incentive to consider other options.
- Jokić’s recent season averages and career resume give him strong negotiating leverage, and tax or guarantee structures and the possibility of fuller no-trade protections could shape his final choice.