Recently, former NBA player Cousins was a guest on the podcast program "Straight Game Podcast", talking about former teammates and Nuggets star Jokic.

Cousins said on the show that Jokic almost chose to retire before renewing his contract with the Nuggets for maximum salary.

Cousins said: "I was playing in Denver at the time, and our lockers were close together. I don't remember who had just signed a contract extension and I said to Jokic, 'Brother, your next contract will definitely explode', and he said to me, 'To be honest, I might have retired when this contract is over.'

"I said at the time, 'You are going to give up 300 million? You are crazy, brother, sign it, the worst thing is to be a little fatter in the future, but don’t give up on these 300 million, buddy, don’t do that. ’

"He said, 'I just want to go back to my own place to lie down', I remember he called that place 'valley' or something, 'I want to lie there with my horses.' I said, 'Brother, those horses won't run, waiting for you. You hurry up and get that 300 million, you can buy more horses and get the 300 million, please.'"

It is reported that Cousins played for the Nuggets in the 2021-22 season. Jokic and the Nuggets signed a five-year, $270 million super contract in the summer of 2022, which will last until the 2026-27 season and include a player option for the 2027-28 season.

Previously reported that Jokic can currently sign a three-year maximum salary with a total value of $212 million in advance, but he has told the Nuggets that he will not renew his contract early this offseason and he plans to wait until next summer to negotiate contracts.