According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Denver Nuggets are signing two-time MVP Nikola Jokić to a five-year supermax extension.
Two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic has agreed to a five-year, $264 million supermax contract extension with the Denver Nuggets, the richest deal in NBA history, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Fifth season (2027-28) will be a player option at $60M.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022
Jokić was always expected to return, but it’s nice to see the deal get done. The contract, a five-year deal worth a projected $264 million, will be the richest in NBA history. Jokić also gets a player option on the end of his deal.
Jokić, 27, is coming off a second straight MVP campaign where he averaged 27.1 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game on an absurd 66.1 true shooting percentage. His 32.1 Player Efficiency Rating was the highest in NBA history, and he was the first player to ever score 2,000 points, grab 1,000 rebounds, and dish 500 assists in a single season.
The Nuggets have been a borderline elite team with Nikola Jokić for a long time. With Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. healthy, the Nuggets are expected to be a contender going forward. With Jokić leading the way, the Nuggets will always have a chance against any team they play while at full strength. After acquiring Aaron Gordon last season and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the Nuggets are well on their way to establishing a quality defensive core around Jokić and co.
Now, we play the waiting game to see if the Nuggets can bolster the rest of their roster.