Inside The Nuggets

Former Nuggets Player Reveals Nikola Jokic Retirement Prediction

Former Denver Nuggets guard Austin Rivers sees Jokic playing 5-6 more years
Joey Linn|
Former Nuggets Player Reveals Nikola Jokic Retirement Prediction
Former Nuggets Player Reveals Nikola Jokic Retirement Prediction

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Denver Nuggets

While Nikola Jokic has already accomplished more than most players in NBA history, the Denver Nuggets star is still just 28 years old. Still with several more prime years ahead of him, Jokic could realistically dominate the league for most of the next decade; however, his former teammate doesn't believe he will stick around that long.

During a recent podcast episode for The Ringer, former Nuggets guard Austin Rivers predicted Jokic will retire in the next 5-6 years, and will not be one of those players who hangs onto their career as long as possible.

"No chance," Rivers said when asked if Jokic will still be playing when he's 39 years old. "I have him playing another 5-6 years. Hold old is he right now? I have him playing until like [age] 34... I don't see him playing in the NBA until he's 39 years old."

Rivers shared a story about when Denver lost to the Golden State Warriors in the 2022 playoffs, saying Jokic was already back home in Serbia just two days after they were eliminated. Not believing his former teammate cares at all about fame or what comes with being an NBA star, Rivers expects Jokic to hang it up around age 34 or 35.

While Jokic's game projects to age gracefully, he may not try to last as long in the NBA as he could.

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Joey Linn
JOEY LINN

Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA and WNBA for On SI. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined On SI to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts and in the classroom earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time, primarily serving as a Clippers beat writer.

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