Nikola Jokic on teaming up with Russell Westbrook: "We didn't have a good relationship on the court. We're fighting a lot and talking back and forth."
Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic has returned to Denver after his run with the Serbian national team at the Paris Olympics, where they secured a bronze medal.
Although he didn't share much about his Olympic experience at the time, he opened up during the Nuggets' media day on Thursday.
"I really enjoyed playing for the national team, playing with my friends, representing my country, my hometown city, and my family. I think it's a great experience," he said at the conference. "I think every player who has an opportunity to do that should do it. It's a completely different competition, tournament. Basically, every game matters. If you lose, you go home. I think it's really, really interesting, especially for the players who can do that; I advise them to do it.
"Playing for the national team is unique emotions and unique feelings; playing with the friends you grew up with," Jokic added. "Basically, you knew them since you were 13, 14, or 15, and now you're competing with them on the national team in the Olympics against the best teams in the world."
During the Olympics, Jokic averaged 18.8 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 8.7 assists, following an MVP season in 2023-24.
Last year, the Nuggets were eliminated in the Western Conference semifinals by the Minnesota Timberwolves in a dramatic Game 7. This offseason, the Nuggets signed Russell Westbrook, and he may be the key to repeating their championship success from 2023.
While Jokic admitted that he and Westbrook didn't have the best on-court relationship in the past, he is optimistic about their future as teammates.
"I mean, we didn't have a good relationship on the court. We're fighting a lot and talking back and forth," Jokic noted. "But I knew who he's outside the court: great teammate, vocal, leadership. The guy you wanna listen to, the guy you wanna follow at the gym.
"I think he's a great player for us, and I think he's gonna bring us all the good stuff."
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