Jokić could sign the largest contract in NBA history: $360 million and a clause giving him full control

Nikola Jokić could become the highest-paid basketball player in NBA history. As American journalist Kevin O’Connor reports, the Serbian star of the Denver Nuggets is considering waiting until the summer of 2027 to sign a new five-year contract worth up to $360 million — a figure that would break every existing record in the league, according to Nova.rs.

The reason is strictly business: by waiting a little longer, Jokić could earn about $80 million more than if he signed the contract extension this summer, O’Connor notes. The player himself has clarified that the decision not to extend the contract now has nothing to do with a desire to leave Denver.

But it is not only the sum that makes this potential deal historic. According to Nova.rs, citing O’Connor’s reporting, Jokić could also secure a “no-trade” clause — a rare privilege in the NBA that gives the player full control over his future: Denver would not be able to send him to any other club without his personal consent.

Jokić himself has been clear about his intentions: “My idea and desire is to stay in Denver forever. Most likely I will sign next year. The reason is strictly business. My desire is to play in Denver until the end of my life, and it’s up to them whether they will offer me a contract or not.”

If O’Connor’s predictions come true, the summer of 2027 will find the Serbian center not only as one of the most dominant players on the court, but also as the holder of the largest contract ever signed in the NBA — a financial crowning of a career that has already placed him among the league’s legends.