Denver Nuggets coach makes Nikola Jokic, Russell Westbrook statement

When the Denver Nuggets signed veteran point guard Russell Westbrook this summer, one of the reasons was Nikola Jokic’s desire to play alongside him. Desiring a playmaker like Westbrook, Jokic was intrigued by the dynamism he could bring to this Nuggets team on and off the court.

Jokic was playing with Serbia at the 2024 Paris Olympics when his team officially signed Westbrook. However, sources confirmed that the two connected over the phone when Westbrook officially became a free agent. Nuggets veteran DeAndre Jordan, who played with Westbrook on the Los Angeles Lakers, also helped bring the 2017 NBA MVP to Denver.

On Wednesday, the Nuggets released a video outlining the pairing between Westbrook and Jokic and how they were among the best in basketball this season.

According to the Nuggets, only five duos in the NBA have more assists than the Jokic-Westbrook combination, all of whom have played more minutes together than those two.

Recognizing this is one of his better matchups, Nuggets head coach Michael Malone said during an appearance on 92.5 Altitude Sports Radio that he would get them more minutes together.

“When Russ is out there with Nikola, good things happen,” Malone said. “So what I’ve been trying to do lately, even before Jamal got hurt, is to get Russ into the game earlier so he can get as many minutes on the court as possible that he can share with Nikola Jokic because I think the two -Man combination very good was effective at both ends of the floor. That’s why we’ll try to get as many minutes together as possible over time.”

This is easier for Malone to manage when Jamal Murray is out of the lineup, but the Nuggets head coach said he will look to maximize the Jokic-Westbrook duo even after Murray returns.

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