The MVP makes history again, signs huge deal to stay in Denver

We knew it was coming, but now it’s official, Nikola Jokic will be staying in Denver.

The All-Star center that has won back-to-back MVPs has agreed to the richest contract in NBA history, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. Jokic’s deal is for five years at $270 million, with his final year being a player option at $60 million for 2027-28.

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

Jokic has spent all seven of his NBA seasons in Denver after being selected in the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft.

“The Joker” averaged 27.1 points per game, 13.8 rebounds, 7.9 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.9 blocks. All of his stats in those categories were improvements from his 2020-21 MVP campaign, except for assists which went down by just 0.4 per game. Antetokounmpo, who Jokic beat out for this season’s award, was the last player to go back-to-back. He did so in the seasons that ended in 2019 and 2020.

Jokic, a Sombor, Serbia native, was the No. 41 overall pick by the Nuggets in the 2014 NBA Draft. Jokic was asleep when he was selected in the second round and a Taco Bell commercial infamously aired when his name flashed across ESPN.

Salary projections in 2023-24 are:

Cap: $133M
Tax: $161M

The Nikola Jokic projected super max in Denver is for $270M

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) June 30, 2022

***