The Denver Nuggets' acquisition of veteran point guard Russell Westbrook was largely influenced by Nikola Jokic's eagerness to play alongside him. Jokic, while participating in the 2024 Paris Olympics, connected with Westbrook over the phone once he became a free agent.

Head coach Michael Malone has noted the effectiveness of the Jokic-Westbrook pairing, highlighting their strong performance in assisted buckets. Malone aims to increase their shared minutes on the court, especially in light of Jamal Murray's absence.