Nikola Jokic, often hailed as the greatest player to ever put on a Denver Nuggets jersey, is already making quite the name for himself in the basketball world, and he hasn’t even hit the age of 30 yet. As the reigning MVP, a title he has claimed three times in the last four seasons, Jokic’s dominance on the court has been a sight to behold. The only season he didn’t clinch the MVP title, in 2022-23, he settled for runner-up but went on to secure the Finals MVP as he led the Nuggets to their first-ever championship victory.
With such an impressive resume under his belt, it’s no surprise that Jokic’s opinion carries a lot of weight within the Nuggets organization. Nuggets insider Harrison Wind has revealed that the towering seven-foot center has expressed his desire for a former MVP to join the team in Denver. Could this former MVP be none other than Russell Westbrook?
Westbrook may not be a free agent at the moment, having exercised his $4 million player option for the 2024-25 season. However, rumblings in the NBA rumor mill suggest that the Los Angeles Clippers are looking to offload Westbrook in a trade, with the point guard unlikely to make another appearance for the team.
While the Nuggets already have Jamal Murray in their lineup, the departure of backup point guard Reggie Jackson – who was traded to the Charlotte Hornets after exercising his $5.25 million player option – has left a void in the team’s rotation. Westbrook, or another talented point guard, could potentially fill that gap and provide valuable support off the bench.
The question on everyone’s mind now is how much gas Westbrook has left in the tank. Once known as one of the most dynamic players in the league during his prime, Westbrook’s impressive record of 199 triple-doubles still stands as the most in NBA history. The six-foot-four point guard even managed to achieve a triple-double average in four separate seasons, earning the prestigious MVP title in 2016-17 during his tenure with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
However, at 35 years old, it’s clear that Westbrook’s game has evolved over the years. After a turbulent season with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2021-22, where he faced criticism for the team’s struggles and failure to make the playoffs, Westbrook was traded to the Utah Jazz in February of 2023. Following his release by the Jazz, Westbrook found a new home with the Clippers and showcased his skills in the 2023 playoffs, particularly standing out in the absence of key players like Paul George and Kawhi Leonard.
As talks of a potential reunion between Westbrook and Jokic heat up, only time will tell if this pairing could bring success to the Denver Nuggets and further solidify Jokic’s legacy as one of the all-time greats in NBA history. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
