Report: Nikola Jokic Wants Nuggets to Acquire Russell Westbrook
According to NBA reporter Harrison Wind of DNVR, Nikola Jokic is interested in the Denver Nuggets acquiring Russell Westbrook from the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Clippers are looking to trade Westbrook, who picked up his $4 million player option for the 2024-25 season. Both the Nuggets and Westbrook have shown mutual interest.
Westbrook, the NBA’s all-time leader in triple-doubles, averaged 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.3 blocks for the Clippers in the 2023-24 season, shooting 45.4% overall, 27.3% from three, and 68.8% from the free-throw line. The Clippers were eliminated by the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the 2024 playoffs in six games.
Convincing Westbrook to come off the bench was challenging for the Clippers after they acquired James Harden from the Philadelphia 76ers, as noted by NBA reporter Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints.
The Nuggets were defeated by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the 2024 playoffs in seven games and lost Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the Orlando Magic on the first day of free agency.
Westbrook, one of the NBA’s all-time greats, has career averages of 21.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 8.1 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.3 blocks with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, and Clippers. He won the MVP Award in the 2016-17 season.
The Clippers also lost Paul George to the Sixers in free agency but re-signed Harden and added Derrick Jones Jr.
Nikola Jokic, who won his third MVP Award in the 2023-24 season, averaged 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, 9.0 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.9 blocks, with shooting percentages of 58.3% from the field, 35.9% from three, and 81.7% from the free-throw line. He recorded 68 double-doubles and 25 triple-doubles.
With Jokic advocating for a trade, we might see Westbrook joining the Nuggets soon as he continues to pursue his first NBA title. Denver won the 2023 championship against the Miami Heat in five games.
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