Nikola Jokic on his retirement: "I will play until I can no longer perform at a high level"

At 31 years old, Nikola Jokic has made it clear that his main objective is to win a second NBA championship with the Denver Nuggets, even above his well-known passion for horse racing.

In an interview with Malika Andrews on the NBA Today show on ESPN, the Serbian center denied the idea that basketball is not his top priority.

"It matters a lot to me," he said. "If you don't care about winning, you shouldn't be in this sport. Maybe my personality is a bit different or maybe I accept victories and success in a different way. But I care about basketball, I love playing, and I enjoy competing. I just accept success or defeat differently."

Championship above all

Jokic was directly asked about the emotions he feels after winning a horse race compared to his always restrained reaction after winning the NBA championship and the Finals MVP in 2023. His answer was clear: the championship comes first.

"Right now, the NBA championship," he emphasized when asked about what tops his priority list.

An injury that changed his perspective

The player born in Sombor also discussed the significant left knee injury he suffered at the beginning of the 2025-26 regular season, which forced him to be out for several weeks, the longest absence of his career.

"It was really interesting because I had never been injured before, and it was a completely new moment in my career," he explained. "I am so used to playing, being on the court, that I felt like I was missing out on it."

That time off the court strengthened his connection to the game and his desire to keep competing at the highest level.

A prolonged future in the NBA

When asked about the longevity of superstars like LeBron James, who can compete beyond the age of 40, Jokic projected several more years in the league.

"To be honest, I think I will play basketball as long as I can do it at a high level. Because I enjoy it, I love playing. So I think I will play until I can no longer perform at a high level and stay healthy," he stated.

Statistical dominance

In 39 games this season, Jokic has put up dominant numbers: 28.7 points, 12.3 rebounds, 10.7 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game, confirming his total impact on the game and his central role in the Nuggets' aspirations.

Far from being distracted by other passions, the three-time MVP remains focused on continuing to compete for the title and extending an era of dominance in Denver for many more years to come.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Nikola Jokic, sobre su retirada: "Voy a jugar hasta que ya no pueda rendir a un alto nivel"