Nikola Jokic Wants to Be on Nuggets 'Forever,' Gives Harsh Take on Team's 1st-Round NBA Playoff Loss

Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokić says he wants to be a Nugget "forever" despite thinking his team isn't close to a championship after losing in the first round to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

"We just lost in the first round. So, I think we are far away," Jokić said when asked about his title hopes after Thursday night's Game 6 elimination loss (h/t ESPN's Anthony Slater).

When asked what changes he felt like his team needed, Jokić answered: "That's not my decision, to be honest. Definitely, if we were in Serbia, we would all get fired."

Jokić was also asked if still planned to sign an extension when next offered a new contract by the Nuggets.

"I still want to be a Nugget forever," Jokić answered.

The Athletic's Jason Quick and Sam Amick reported Friday that "team sources say there is no indication that the three-time league MVP has a wandering eye" in terms of signing with another team.

Jokić, who reportedly told the Nuggets he wouldn't sign an extension last summer, has one guaranteed year remaining on his contract before a player option for the 2027-28 season.

The Nuggets were unable to force Game 7 on Thursday night despite taking on a shorthanded Timberwolves team missing both Donte DiVincenzo and Anthony Edwards to injury.

Jokić helped the Nuggets get within one point of tying Game 6 with just over eight minutes left in regulation, but the Wolves closed out the game on a 22-11 run to clinch the series.

The Timberwolves will now advance to the second round to face the San Antonio Spurs, while the Nuggets will exit the postseason without a series win for the first time since 2022.

The Nuggets have already committed most of the 2026-27 cap to five players in Jokić, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Cameron Johnson and Christian Braun.

The franchise may be set to make some changes to that roster in an attempt to convince Jokić this team is closer to winning the 2027 title while potentially resuming extension negotiations with their superstar this summer.