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Once again, the NBA rumor mill is churning around Nikola Jokic's future with the Denver Nuggets. The star center has declined to sign a contract extension in each of the past two offseasons, fueling speculation about whether he might test free agency. Jokic has made it clear that he plans to wait until next offseason to sign a new deal, a decision that would require him to decline his 2027-28 player option and become an unrestricted free agent.
NBA insider Tim Kawakami recently discussed the situation on The TK Show, suggesting that rival teams should remain vigilant. "I've been hearing this for a little while. It's an open thing. He's very likely to go back to Denver, but it's an open thing. There's nothing guaranteed about him going back to sign a long extension with Denver. He is a free agent," Kawakami said last week.
Despite the chatter, Nuggets fans have little reason for concern. While Jokic will indeed be a free agent next summer, the likelihood of him seriously considering a departure is minimal. As one NBA executive told The Ringer's Howard Beck, "Twenty-nine executives are not doing their job if they're not constantly thinking about how to get Jokic on their team." Yet interest from other teams doesn't equate to a genuine threat.
Key Analysis
Jokic has verbally committed to staying in Denver. "I'm gonna sign next year if they want me," he said at the Nuggets' media day in late September. The organization has every reason to want him back, as keeping the superstar center is the only way to sustain their championship aspirations. Letting him walk for nothing would be a disastrous outcome that the front office surely will avoid.
Moreover, Jokic has consistently expressed a desire to remain with the franchise. "My idea is to sign next summer and stay in Denver for the rest of my life," he stated in early July, when doubts about his future were more pronounced than warranted. By re-signing with Denver, Jokic would be eligible for a historic five-year contract worth approximately $360 million. It is difficult to envision him turning down such a lucrative deal and leaving the team he has been with for the past 12 years.
Until Jokic puts pen to paper, the topic will likely persist, but fans should rest easy. All signs point to the MVP staying in Denver for the long haul.