The NBA offseason is all about expecting the unexpected. So far, the hoops nation has witnessed various wild trades after the free agency deadline. Notably, Klay Thompson and Paul George‘s trades broke a lot of people’s hearts while it took others by surprise. However, amid this chaos, Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokić has been building a bridge with the LA Clippers to trade Russell Westbrook. And, a veteran reporter revealed the actual reason behind it.

Every loyal Westbrook fan would remember the face-off between him and the Joker from the 2018-19 season. Just to remind y’all, Jokic stepped in between Jamal Murray and Brook as they were having a heated altercation. The moment the Slovenian star inserted himself, Beastbrook‘s focus shifted toward him and the duo ended up shoving each other away before the refs separated them. However, the issue was eventually resolved during the All-Star weekend, as the duo patched things up.

Little did Russ know that he planted a seed for a trade to a championship-caliber team in the future. The trade rumor from the center was that the Nuggets were pursuing to trade the former MVP, who has already agreed to the $4 million option with the Clippers. However, the latest episode of DNVR Nuggets Podcast revealed that it was Nikola Jokić who initiated the request. Moreover, the veteran DNVR reporter stated it was Russell Westbrook’s wholesome gesture from the past that fetched him the opportunity.

Addressing the frenzy, the reporter said, the duo had developed “friendship” and “mutual respect” for each other following the ugly brawl. Moreover, he also added, “Westbrook… I think the first superstar to ever embrace Nikola Jokic. Jokic has been an outcast.”

Along with he also went on to take a dig at LeBron James, accusing him of ignoring the Joker, saying, “We all remember LeBron James not picking him (in All-Star) like for whatever reasons.” Nevertheless, it’s all about Russ’ fit in the Mile High City. 

Can Russell Westbrook fit in with Nikola Jokić & Co.?

The word is already out. It’s safe to say that Russell Westbrook is past his prime. He is no longer the MVP-caliber player that he used to be. But he still has a lot to offer to the team as a leader. Especially after the Nuggets saw a slight threat to their championship roster, Russ could be a massive add-on. The team lost their champion guard, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, in the free agency to the Orlando Magic.

Even though Russell doesn’t possess the shooting ability of Pope, he can definitely be a threat on the defensive end along with some rim protection. Speaking of another reason behind Jokic’s pursuit of Russ, Harrison Wind, another reporter for DNVR dropped a breakthrough.

The Nuggets, who were known for breaking their deficits in the final quarters of the games, struggled to maintain their leads in the 2024 postseason. Speaking of that, Wind said, “I’m sure Nikola Jokić is a little tired of like seeing a 20-point lead evaporate when he’s sitting on the bench… the Nuggets bench has just really lacked so much juice and you know Russell Westbrook has some juice. He can still make some stuff happen. He can change the tone and the feel of a game very quickly.”

At the same time, it’s a gamble for the Nuggets to put their trust in Russ, considering his recent performances, averaging 6.3 points in the 2024 postseason, coming off the bench. Nevertheless, will he live up to the expectations? Let us know in the comments.

Before you go, do not forget to check out Shaquille O’Neal’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, to open up about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud. Keep checking this space for more such updates.