Inside The Nuggets

Russell Westbrook's Nikola Jokic Statement Before Nuggets-Thunder

The Denver Nuggets and OKC Thunder will being their NBA season on Thursday.

Joey Linn

Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook (4) during Denver Nuggets Media Day.
Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook (4) during Denver Nuggets Media Day. / Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
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The Denver Nuggets and OKC Thunder will begin their NBA season on Thursday night. The top two seeds in the Western Conference last season will tip-off at 7:00 PM PT in Denver in a nationally televised TNT game.

This will be the official Nuggets debut of nine-time NBA All-Star Russell Westbrook. The 2017 MVP made three appearances in the preseason, posting averages of 11.3 points, 6.3 assists, and 2.0 rebounds in 19.6 minutes per games.

Also making five of his nine three-point attempts, Westbrook performed well for Denver in the preseason and will look to continue that on Thursday against his former team.

Ahead of his official Nuggets debut, Westbrook was asked about his MVP teammate Nikola Jokic.

“Just the unselfishness,” Westbrook said of Jokic. “I think that's a trait that I think a lot of people may know, but being able to see it daily, it's great just for the best player in the world to be like that. Everybody else don't have no choice but to get in line.”

Westbrook and Jokic are two of the greatest playmakers in NBA history. Now teammates, the two MVPs are looking to win a championship in Denver after years as opponents.

Thursday night’s game between Denver and Oklahoma City should be an exciting Western Conference battle against two of the NBA’s best teams.

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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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