In a league where superstardom often comes with obsession, Nikola Jokic remains an enigma. According to former teammate DeMarcus Cousins, the Denver Nuggets’ franchise cornerstone nearly retired in 2022, just before signing his historic $276 million supermax contract.
On the Straight Game Podcast, Cousins shared a jaw-dropping exchange from their time together in Denver.
“Our lockers were next to each other,” Cousins recalled. “I told him, ‘Your new contract is going to be insane!’ And he said, ‘Cuz, I might retire before that contract.’”
Cousins, stunned, responded with classic Boogie bluntness:
“You’re going to leave $300 million on the table? Are you crazy? Sign the contract and then get fat, become bad. Just don’t miss out on $300 million!”
Jokic’s reply? Equally on-brand:
“Cuz, I just want to go back to my hometown and chill with my horses.”
Jokic’s love for horses is no secret. The Serbian superstar has long expressed a preference for the quiet life in Sombor, where he owns a stable and races trotters. Cousins emphasized something we all knew; that basketball isn’t even Jokic’s top priority:
“This is like his second or third favorite thing to do. Maybe third or fourth. Most games where he’s dropping these crazy stats, he probably doesn’t even want to be there”.
Despite his ambivalence, Jokic signed the deal, and the rest is history. He led the Nuggets to their first-ever NBA championship in 2023, earned Finals MVP, and added a third regular-season MVP in 2024. His laid-back demeanor may baffle fans, but it’s also what makes him so dangerous: a generational talent who plays without ego or pressure.
