Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets’ remarkable talent, has already achieved more in his NBA career than many players could ever dream of. At just 28 years old, he finds himself with numerous prime years still ahead, poised to potentially dominate the league for the better part of the next decade. However, his former teammate holds a different perspective and doesn’t anticipate Jokic sticking around for an extended tenure.
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During a recent podcast episode on The Ringer, former Nuggets guard Austin Rivers ventured a prediction that Jokic would retire within the next 5-6 years, suggesting that he won’t follow the path of some players who extend their careers for as long as possible.
Offering insight into his perspective, Rivers, a seasoned NBA veteran, remarked that Jokic might not even remain in the league for more than 15 years at the most. Speaking on the Bill Simmons podcast, Rivers elaborated,
“I have him playing another 5-6 years. I have him playing until like 34. I don’t wanna say anything more than that, but I don’t see him playing until he’s 39 years old. He didn’t want to go to the parade!”
“The last time I was there, we lost to Golden State. And I remember, like, two or three days later, I was grabbing some stuff out the locker room, and I said ‘Jok here? No, he left yesterday.’ Just after two days, he was gone, he was out.
“I don’t think he really cares about the American pop culture and trends and fame and relevance. These things don’t interest him, like, deeply to the core, and what interests him is those things. I don’t see him hanging around. He is already a champion. He is an All-Star, an MVP. He signed his second supermax, so probably signing another one and then he is out. I think at 35, maybe 36, he is gone.”
Despite being in the prime of his basketball journey at just 28, it’s challenging to imagine Jokic stepping away from the game. With ample time ahead of him to amass achievements and accolades, his potential for greatness remains substantial. However, Jokic has demonstrated a distinctive perspective on his NBA career compared to other top stars. Even if he maintains his health into his mid-30s, his passion for the game might wane, potentially leading him to retire earlier than expected.
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Rivers recounted an anecdote from the 2022 playoffs when Denver faced off against the Golden State Warriors. He mentioned that Jokic had already returned to Serbia just two days after the Nuggets were eliminated, illustrating his former teammate’s apparent indifference to fame or the trappings of NBA stardom. Rivers anticipates that Jokic could choose to hang up his sneakers around the age of 34 or 35, even though his game could gracefully withstand the test of time, should he wish to do so.
