Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic has won three of the last four NBA MVP awards. Jokic, the MVP of the 2023 NBA Finals, is arguably the best basketball player right now.

The Nuggets signed nine-time NBA All-Star Russell Westbrook this offseason, adding another former MVP. Westbrook won the MVP title in 2017 when he averaged a historic 30-point triple-double throughout the season.

Several Nuggets players have spoken about what Westbrook will bring to the team, highlighting his playmaking, defense, intensity and other traits that make him unique. This was already clear when Westbrook appeared in pre-season.

When asked what his team had been working on in practice, Jokic first answered transition defense before praising Westbrook.

“I think we’re lucky to have Russ on our team,” Jokic said. “He’s the guy who’s been doing this for a decade or two. He does it at a really high level. He can help us a lot in this category.”

Westbrook can help the Nuggets on both ends when it comes to working on transition defense in practice, as he not only competes on defense but also tirelessly pushes the tempo on offense and forces defenses to fall behind.

The Nuggets, who recently returned from Abu Dhabi, will play the Phoenix Suns in an NBA preseason game on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. PT.

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