Nikola Jokić to captain Serbia as Denver eyes record contract

Serbian basketball selector Dušan Alimpijević announced that NBA star Nikola Jokić will serve as captain of the Serbia national team for upcoming FIBA World Cup qualifying games against Switzerland (July 2 in Fribourg) and Bosnia‑Herzegovina (July 6 in Belgrade). Jokić, who returned to the squad after Serbia’s early exit from EuroBasket, said he feels a “guilty conscience” over the disappointment and is determined to lift the team’s performance. The coach praised Jokić’s commitment, noting that all players who answered the call are respected and that the captaincy decision was straightforward.

At the same time, Denver Nuggets executives are preparing a historic super‑max contract for Jokić. The club has a $62 million player option for the final year of his current deal; declining it would allow a four‑year extension worth up to $278 million, or a three‑year deal if the option is exercised. Either scenario would raise Jokić’s average annual salary to about $70 million, potentially making him the highest‑paid player in NBA history. The negotiations are complicated by the league’s strict luxury‑tax thresholds and salary‑cap constraints, which limit Denver’s flexibility to add supporting talent. Both the national‑team appointment and the contract talks are expected to dominate Serbian sports headlines and NBA coverage over the coming weeks.