Inside The Nuggets

Nikola Jokic Makes Russell Westbrook Statement After Nuggets Practice

The Denver Nuggets now have two MVPs on their team.

Joey Linn

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) during Denver Nuggets Media Day.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) during Denver Nuggets Media Day. / Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
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Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic has won three of the last four NBA MVP awards. The 2023 NBA Finals MVP, Jokic is arguably basketball’s best player right now.

The Nuggets signed nine-time NBA All-Star Russell Westbrook this offseason, giving them another former MVP. Westbrook won MVP in 2017 when he averaged a historic 30-point triple-double for the entire season.

Several Nuggets players have spoken about what Westbrook will bring to the team, emphasizing his playmaking, defense, intensity, and other attributes that make him unique. This has already been seen through one preseason appearance for Westbrook.

When asked about what his team worked on in practice, Jokic said transition defense before praising Westbrook.

“I think we are lucky that we have Russ on our team,” Jokic said. “He’s the guy that’s doing that for a decade or two. He’s doing that on a really high level. He can help us a lot in that category.”

Westbrook can help the Nuggets on both ends when it comes to working on transition defense in practice, because not only does he compete on the defensive end, but he pushes the pace relentlessly on offense - forcing the defense to get back. 

Recently returning from Abu Dhabi, the Nuggets will play the Phoenix Suns in an NBA preseason game on Sunday at 5:30 PM PT.

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Joey Linn
JOEY LINN

Title: Credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation Email: joeylinn52@gmail.com Education: Communication Studies degree from Biola University Location: Los Angeles, California Expertise: NBA analysis and reporting Experience: Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined Sports Illustrated's FanNation 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 during his time in school. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts, combined with his excellence in the classroom, earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time across multiple platforms, primarily serving as a credentialed Clippers beat writer.

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