DeMarcus Cousins Reveals Nikola Jokic Nearly Retired in 2022 Before Committing to Nuggets With Historic Supermax Contract Extension
In a revelation that has left NBA fans stunned and stirred, former NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins disclosed in a recent podcast appearance that Nikola Jokic, the reigning NBA MVP and Denver Nuggets cornerstone, seriously considered retiring from basketball in 2022—just before agreeing to the historic supermax extension that made him the highest-paid player in league history at the time.
Cousins, who briefly played with the Nuggets during the 2021–22 season, offered rare insight into Jokic’s mindset during that period, describing a version of the Serbian big man that fans rarely see: one burdened by mental exhaustion, personal reflection, and the weight of superstardom. According to Cousins, Jokic was genuinely torn between returning to his simple life in Sombor, Serbia, or continuing his rise as one of the greatest big men the game has ever seen.
“People don’t know how close he was to walking away,” Cousins said during the interview. “I’ve never seen a superstar that humble, that detached from the fame and money. Jok just wanted peace, man. He missed home, his horses, his family. Basketball was never about the spotlight for him—it was just something he was great at.”
The comment has rippled through the basketball community, raising questions about the emotional toll of NBA stardom and reminding fans that even the most dominant athletes are human beneath the accolades. Jokic, known for his aversion to media attention and his preference for a quiet, rural lifestyle, has long been an enigmatic figure in the NBA. While other stars chase endorsements, social media fame, or legacies carefully crafted through public narratives, Jokic has remained deeply private and often ambivalent about the fame basketball has brought him.
Cousins’ comments add new context to the summer of 2022, when Jokic was eligible for—and ultimately signed—a five-year, $270 million supermax extension with Denver. At the time, the deal was celebrated as a no-brainer for both sides: the Nuggets secured their franchise centerpiece, and Jokic was rewarded for becoming the first center in nearly 40 years to win back-to-back MVPs. But behind the scenes, according to Cousins, Jokic’s decision wasn’t as simple as it appeared.
“He didn’t need the money,” Cousins explained. “His family lives modestly. He’s not chasing Bentleys or private islands. The man just wants to race horses and be around his people. That’s where his soul is. He talked about maybe stepping away, just disappearing into that life and never looking back.”
This isn’t the first time that Jokic’s relationship with basketball has seemed tenuous. In various interviews over the years, Jokic has hinted at his lack of attachment to the trappings of stardom. He famously celebrated winning the 2023 NBA Championship by quickly boarding a plane to Serbia to attend a horse race. When asked during the postgame press conference if he was excited for the championship parade in Denver, Jokic replied, almost disappointed, “The job is done—we can go home now.”
What stands out most about Cousins’ account is not just the possibility that the NBA came dangerously close to losing one of its brightest stars, but the fact that Jokic’s potential retirement would not have been the result of scandal, injury, or decline—just personal choice. In an era where athletes are increasingly vocal about mental health, burnout, and the importance of balance, Jokic’s dilemma adds an even deeper layer to the evolving conversation about what it means to be an NBA superstar in the modern era.
The reaction from fans has ranged from disbelief to empathy. Many expressed gratitude that Jokic chose to stay and continue blessing the league with his brilliance. Others viewed his internal struggle as a wake-up call about the demands placed on international stars, who often leave behind family and cultural roots for years at a time. Jokic, who has never hidden his homesickness, once said in an interview, “In Serbia, I feel normal. In the NBA, I feel like a product.”
Former Nuggets teammates and coaches have since weighed in on the revelation. Michael Malone, Denver’s head coach and longtime Jokic supporter, declined to comment directly but has often spoken about Jokic’s emotional complexity and deep-rooted humility. “He’s not like anyone else,” Malone said in a 2023 interview. “He’s brilliant, but he doesn’t care about being celebrated. He just wants to play the right way and then go home to his horses.”
That sentiment was echoed by Tim Connelly, the former Nuggets president of basketball operations, who helped draft Jokic in 2014. “Even back then, you could tell he wasn’t in it for fame,” Connelly said. “We had to convince him he belonged here. And the crazy part? He still sometimes doesn’t believe it.”
So what ultimately made Jokic stay?
According to Cousins, it was a combination of loyalty, love for his teammates, and an understanding that he had more to give to the game. “He told me, ‘If I walk away now, I’m leaving my guys hanging.’ He meant Jamal, Mike, Coach Malone—the whole Denver family. That mattered to him more than anything.”
And stay he did—leading the Nuggets to their first-ever NBA title in 2023 and solidifying his legacy as arguably the most skilled big man in league history. His performance in that playoff run was nothing short of historic: triple-doubles at will, surgical passing, and a calm command of the game that made even the most chaotic moments look effortless. Jokic didn’t just dominate—he did it in a way that redefined the center position entirely.
Yet now, with Cousins’ revelation, that achievement feels even more significant. It wasn’t just the physical toll of playoff basketball that Jokic overcame—it was the internal conflict, the pull of a simpler life, the choice to stay when walking away may have brought him greater personal peace. For fans, that decision deepens their appreciation. For players, it challenges the idea that success always means wanting more.
“It’s crazy to think he almost left all this behind,” said JJ Redick on his podcast. “But in a weird way, that’s what makes Jokic so magnetic. He’s not chasing greatness—he just happens to embody it.”
There are now whispers about how long Jokic will actually play. He’s only 30, still in his prime, and under contract through 2028, but his past comments and personal values suggest that he won’t be a player who hangs on for the sake of records or farewell tours. If and when he chooses to walk away, it will likely be abrupt and entirely on his own terms.
For now, however, fans can be grateful that in the summer of 2022, Nikola Jokic chose to stay. He chose the Nuggets, his teammates, and the game of basketball—at least for a while longer. And in doing so, he gave the NBA one of its most authentic and extraordinary stories.
The league didn’t just keep a superstar. It kept a reminder that sometimes, the most meaningful victories are the ones that happen quietly, off-camera, in the moments when no one is watching.
