Jokic reveals his strong connection to Denver.
Nikola Jokic has been the heart of the Denver Nuggets for over a decade, and he wants everyone to know that is not going to change anytime soon.
The three-time MVP sat down for a lengthy interview on the Serbian podcast X&O's CHAT, and when asked if he could ever see himself playing for another team, his answer was about as clear as it gets.
"I wouldn't like to imagine that. Even if we never win anything else after this, an organic title, it means more to me than anything," Jokic said. "I really found peace here. My two kids were born here. Everyone's here. Peace, home, I found my life here. And I like life here. I don't feel the need, I don't have the urge to. We built something here, together as a team."
What Jokic Has Built in Denver
Those words carry a lot of weight when you look at what Jokic has done throughout his career and what he continues to do on the court this season.
Through 44 games in 2025-26, the Serbian big man is averaging 28.7 points, 12.6 rebounds and 10.5 assists per game while shooting 57.0 percent from the field and 40.4 percent from three, which means he is once again on pace for a historic triple-double season.
He has already passed Oscar Robertson for second on the all-time triple-double list and is closing in on Russell Westbrook's record of 207 at a rate that suggests he could get there as soon as next season.
He led the Nuggets to their first NBA championship in 2023, earning Finals MVP honors, and has been named to seven straight All-NBA teams.
He won three MVP awards between 2021 and 2024, and last season he became just the third player in league history to average a triple-double for an entire season.
There is no real argument against the idea that Jokic is the greatest player in franchise history, and the fact that he wants to stay makes this even more special for Denver.
The Contract Situation
Jokic is currently in the third year of a five-year, $270 million supermax deal that runs through 2026-27, with a player option for 2027-28.
He was eligible to sign a three-year extension worth about $212 million last summer but chose to wait because he stands to earn even more by signing a four-year deal worth close to $300 million this offseason.
That decision was purely about finances, not about wanting to leave, and everything he said in this interview backs that up.
If he signs the expected extension this summer, Jokic would be locked in with Denver through the 2030-31 season, when he will be 36 years old.
Where the Nuggets Stand Right Now
Denver currently sits at 39-25 on the season and holds the fourth seed in the Western Conference, sitting behind Oklahoma City, San Antonio and Minnesota.
The Nuggets have dealt with injuries throughout the year, including a knee injury that kept Jokic out for 16 games earlier in the season, but he has looked like himself since returning and the team has found its groove behind his play and the strong performance of Jamal Murray.
Murray is putting together a career year with averages of 25.5 points and 7.2 assists per game, though he is currently dealing with an ankle injury.
If the Nuggets can get healthy down the stretch, they have the talent to make a deep playoff run, and knowing that their best player is fully committed to the city and the organization only strengthens that belief.
For Nuggets fans, this is the kind of thing you want to hear from your franchise player, and Jokic delivered it in the most genuine way possible.