NBA trade rumor: Denver Nuggets' biggest star rattles analysts amid $278 million extension refusal drama

Nikola Jokic has turned down a contract extension for the second straight offseason, and the Denver Nuggets are running out of easy explanations for it. The three-time MVP passed on a three-year, $200 million extension in 2025, then walked away from a four-year, $278 million offer on June 14. He says he still wants to retire in Denver. Not everyone around the league is convinced that's how this plays out.