Nikola Jokic is one of the best basketball players in the world. His three NBA MVPs and his form this season have only confirmed that. However, the Denver Nuggets were looking to add another MVP candidate to their squad not too long ago.
Nikola Jokic was drafted by the franchise in 2015. At the time, he was not their primary offensive choice. However, he steadily grew into their starter. By year three, he helped the Denver Nuggets post a winning record for the first time in five years.
But then, the franchise knew they had to add additional pieces to their squad to vie for championships down the line. Ahead of the 2018 NBA Draft, they had some players they liked.
However, the No. 14 pick they had was too low to snag any of those players. Former Denver Post writer Mike Singer revealed how it all went down.
The Nuggets knew that Vlade Divac was not particularly high on Luka Doncic. And they had designs on pairing Nikola Jokic with Luka Doncic. On draft night in 2018, they tried. There was a call placed. There was a proposal, and the Nuggets attempted to get the No. 2 pick for Gary Harris and two first round picks was what I was told.
Mike Singer said on The Hoop Collective
The Denver Nuggets attempted to trade up in the 2018 draft to select Luka Dončić, offering a trade package centered around Gary Harris and first-round picks, per @msinger
“The Nuggets knew that Vlade Divac was not particularly high on Luka Doncic. And they had designs on… pic.twitter.com/Wwr1bG7Roa
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) November 18, 2024
Singer’s revelation suggests the dream pairing of Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic almost happened. But their package was not appealing enough for the Sacramento Kings who were picking at No. 2. Else who knows how it would have turned out had the two friends played for the same squad.
Denver Nuggets also almost added a two-time NBA Champion
With Luka Doncic out of their grasp, the Denver Nuggets ultimately landed Michael Porter Jr. That move worked out for them as the forward was a core member of their 2023 NBA title-winning team. But to speed the process up, the Nuggets tried their hand at another player a couple of years later.
The Nuggets were closer than has ever been known to landing Jrue Holiday. Before New Orleans ended up trading Jrue Holiday to Milwaukee, the Nuggets tried and were very close.
Mike Singer said on The Hoop Collective
Singer revealed that if the Nuggets had ninety more minutes, they would have completed that trade. Jrue Holiday went on to win his first NBA title that year with the Milwaukee Bucks. His defense and playmaking could have helped the Nuggets in their championship quest.
A year later, the Nuggets landed Aaron Gordon, whose interior play on both ends of the floor ended up being extremely crucial. Those shortages of moves ended up paving the way for Nikola Jokic today.
Had the Denver Nuggets landed either Luka Doncic or Holiday, playmaking would have been their primary focus. Instead, the team now plays through The Joker, whose otherworldly playmaking has made him multiple MVPs.
