Mavs Legend Dirk Nowitzki: If Nikola Jokic Ever Joins Luka Doncic, ‘I Hope That Would Be In Dallas’

August 23, 2024

Not surprisingly, Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki wouldn’t mind seeing Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic teaming up with Mavs star Luka Doncic someday.

Also not surprisingly, if that were to ever happen, Nowitzki said he’d hope it would be with the Mavs.

“I hope that would be in Dallas,” Nowitzki said, via Cesare Milanti of Eurohoops. “I’m not sure if that will ever happen, but obviously both are two of the best players in the world. If not the best players in the world.”

Nowitzki added that Jokic, from Serbia, and Doncic, from Slovenia, are tight.

“They both have a great relationship with each other, they respect each other and like each other genuinely,” he said. “They spend time with each other. I’m not sure, but of course, we want Luka in Dallas as long as we can.

“Hopefully, he finishes his career there, but I love Jokic’s game, how he plays the game with passion, and the skill level as a big is unbelievable. They’re both incredible players.”

Jokic and the Nuggets won the NBA championship in 2023. Doncic and the Mavericks emerged from the West and reached the Finals last season. Each has a strong case as the league’s best player.

There, of course, is no reason to believe that either will leave his current situation anytime soon. Jokic is as loyal to his team as they come. Same, clearly, for Donic.

Meanwhile, Nowitzki hails from Germany and said he’s taken great pride in watching the current national team.

“I always tried to make the game bigger in Germany by playing the national team in the summer, being present at times,” he said. “Always trying to help the game grow. If I was part of these guys’ story, that’s humbling and that’s amazing. But they obviously write their own story now.”