Aaron Gordon Makes Nikola Jokic, Russell Westbrook Promises Ahead of Game 2

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By JH Kubicek | Last updated May 7, 2025 4:14 PM ET

When Russell Westbrook retires, he will go down as one of the best NBA players ever. He has twice led the league in scoring and three times in assists, is a nine-time All-Star, MVP, and averaged a triple-double in four different seasons.

However, he has never won an NBA title.

Nikola Jokic is also an all-time great, but he led the Denver Nuggets to their first title in 2023, taking home Finals MVP honors. The Nuggets' less-decorated players are doing all they can to get them to the top of the NBA mountain.

Jokic can be credited with extending and creating several careers, as his pass-first offensive approach seems to rub off on his teammates, who are almost always in the right place at the right time.

As a sort of "thank you," his longtime teammates strive to get him another ring, and almost certainly another Finals MVP.

“I push myself, work relentlessly to elevate his time in the NBA," said Gordon of Jokic. "It’s the same with Russell; he’ll also be a Hall of Famer. I’m doing everything I can to try and get him a ring. I stick to my role, and at the end of the day, that’s what gives me inspiration.”

Westbrook might not have the same impact on the Nuggets as Jokic has, although he has embraced his role this season and remains one of the best offseason pickups in the entire NBA. After taking Game 1 from the Oklahoma City Thunder, it's hard to ignore the Nuggets and their title hopes.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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