DeMarcus Cousins was teammates with Nikola Jokic for one season with the Denver Nuggets. That campaign, funny enough, turned out to have a conversation between the two revolve around retirement.
Cousins became a member of the Nuggets when the Milwaukee Bucks traded him there during the 2021-22 season. He came off the bench as Jokic’s backup, averaging 8.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game after 31 appearances. He shot 45.6% from the field, including 32.4% from beyond the arc, and 73.6% from the free-throw line.
Cousins reflected on his time with Jokic and the Nuggets during a July 31 episode of the Straight Game Podcast. He recalled an event where a player signed a supermax extension at the time, telling Jokic that he can get that deal as well.
“He’ll let you know off rip, he really don’t give a f*** about this s***. He doesn’t care at all. This is, like, his second or third favorite thing to do, maybe third or fourth. Like, it’s most games where he’s, you know, dropping one, he’s crazy style. He probably doesn’t even want to be there. And that’s the scary part about all of it,” Cousins said.
“Our lockers were next to each other— he said I think I might retire after this contract. I said, ‘Leave 300 million on the table?’ I said, ‘Sign the contract and just get fat at worst, don’t pass up on the 300 million.’”
“He’ll let you know he really don’t give a fu*k about this sh*t… our lockers were next to each other— he said I think I might retire after this contract.”
(Via @straightgamepod)
What’s Next For Nikola Jokic, Nuggets
GettyMichael Porter Jr. #1, Aaron Gordon #32 and Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets look on during the first quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Seven of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center on May 18, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images)
Safe to say that Nikola Jokic followed DeMarcus Cousin’ advice and signed the supermax extension with the Nuggets. It’s also possible that Jokic may have been joking about retiring, but that aspect might still be on the radar when the contract expires.
Jokic is coming off of another All-NBA season with Denver, standing out as one of the best players in the league. He averaged 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, 10.2 assists, and 1.8 steals per game after 70 appearances. He shot 57.6% overall, including 41.7% from downtown, and 80% at the charity stripe.
Jokic mostly kept up this level of play in the playoffs. He produced 26.2 points, 12.7 rebounds, eight assists, and two steals per contest against the Los Angeles Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder.
This offseason marks the Nuggets’ first without head coach Karl Malone, who they fired near the end of the regular season. They move forward with David Adelman as their top guy at the helm.
Denver was active this summer, making deals and signings that bolstered the roster. They acquired Cam Johnson from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Michael Porter Jr., their biggest move. As for signings, they got Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown in free agency.
The Nuggets lacked consistency in the second unit, which resulted in their second-round exit to the Thunder. Addressing that area this summer, they will look to be a huge threat in the West.
DeMarcus Cousins Shares Retirement Claim About Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic