Former NBA center DeMarcus Cousins has revealed that Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic once considered retiring from basketball rather than signing his record-breaking supermax contract extension.
Speaking on the “Straight Game Podcast,” Cousins recounted a conversation from their time as teammates. “When I was with Denver, our lockers were next to each other,” he said. After another player signed a major deal, Cousins told Jokic his own extension would be “crazy,” to which the Serbian star replied, “You know, Cuz, I honestly think I might retire before this contract.”
Cousins was stunned that Jokic would consider walking away from a potential $300 million payday, which he attributed to Jokic’s simple desire to relax in the Serbian countryside with his horses. “I said, ‘Man, you out your motherf***ing mind,'” Cousins recalled. “Sign the contract and just get fat at worst. Don’t pass up on the $300 million.”
The anecdote reinforces Cousins’ belief that basketball is not Jokic’s top priority. “He really doesn’t give a fk about this st,” Cousins claimed. “This is like his second or third favorite thing to do… Most games, when he’s dropping these crazy stats, he probably doesn’t want to be there. And that’s the scary part about all of it.”
This apparent indifference makes Jokic’s on-court dominance all the more remarkable. Despite what seems to be a casual approach, the perennial MVP candidate consistently delivers historic, MVP-caliber performances and has led the Nuggets to an NBA championship. His well-documented passion for his home in Serbia and his horse racing stable provides context for his unique perspective on his basketball career.
While Jokic ultimately signed the lucrative extension, Cousins’ story highlights the central paradox of the superstar’s career. The revelation suggests the league is witnessing one of its most naturally gifted players ever—a dominant force who achieves unparalleled success while treating the sport as a secondary interest.
