When questioned about the possibility of teaming up with Luka Dončić in the future, Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokić acknowledged that while it’s a tempting idea, he expressed his reluctance to depart from Denver in order to facilitate such a partnership.

One of the main narratives during this year’s NBA All-Star Weekend revolved around the ongoing friendship between Nikola Jokić and Luka Dončić, which has become somewhat of an annual tradition. Speculation has arisen about the possibility of the two NBA superstars joining forces someday. The question on many minds: if such a partnership were to materialize, would it occur with the Denver Nuggets or the Dallas Mavericks?

When asked about the potential of teaming up with Dončić, Jokić responded, primarily in Serbian, indicating his reluctance to leave Denver but leaving the door open for Dončić. In a translated response, he stated, “I’m not sure if it’s feasible. I have no intention of leaving Denver. I’m content here, and it’s a fantastic organization. However, if Luka ever becomes unhappy in Dallas, he’s more than welcome to join us.”

None of Jokic’s perspectives is surprising. He’s coming off a successful NBA Finals run with the only organization he’s ever played for. He is a two-time MVP winner while being well-positioned to contend again and win another MVP. He has no reason to ponder departing from the Mile High City. 

Meanwhile, Dončić concluded a season with the Mavericks where they finished with a 38-44 record, falling short of qualification for the play-in tournament. Despite this, there is a sense of optimism within the Dallas organization. 

The team acquired Kyrie Irving last year and has since strengthened its supporting roster by adding players such as Dereck Lively II through the draft, and P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford through trades. Moreover, low-risk signings like Derrick Jones Jr. and Dante Exum have proven to be valuable additions to the team.

Before the Mavericks executed any of their trade moves and amidst a lackluster January performance, Dončić expressed confidence in the team’s capability to vie for a championship, which remains his primary objective — surpassing even the MVP accolade.

Dončić’s conviction in Dallas’s championship aspirations surfaced during a one-on-one interview with Ekipa24 in January. He underscored the significance of acknowledging the team’s injury woes, particularly those involving himself, Irving, and Lively — the trio Dončić referred to as the team’s “Big 3.”

“I’m not suggesting that people are disregarding our injury issues this season, but perhaps they’re not giving them enough weight,” Dončić conveyed to Andrej Miljkovic of Ekipa24, in a translation from Slovenian to English. “It was a significant injury crisis; there was always someone absent, and usually, it was someone vital. In my view, we’re now closer to optimal condition and relatively healthy. Especially our ‘Big 3’—we’ve had limited opportunities to play together in games, even fewer in practice. We’re still adjusting, even though we’re already into the latter half of the regular season.”

When addressing the team’s deficiencies, Dončić stressed the necessity for increased physicality, observing that opponents frequently outmatch them in physicality, contrary to expectations.

“As for our deficiencies and what we need to address, it’s evident that we need to be much more physical,” Dončić remarked. “Practically every team plays with greater physicality against us compared to how we respond. That needs to change.”

Even Mavs coach Jason Kidd, in an interview with 97.1 The Freak in January, predicted that Dončić, who averages 34.2 points, 9.5 assists, and 8.8 rebounds, would secure multiple championships during his NBA career.

“This young man is only 24 years old and is shattering records left and right,” Kidd asserted. “He’s a winner, and his ultimate goal is to win a championship. He’ll achieve that and more; he’ll win multiple championships when it’s all said and done.”

Kidd went further to assert that Dončić is already “superior” to Dirk Nowitzki, stressing the importance of surrounding him with the right personnel to clinch an NBA title eventually.

“I’ve expressed this internally: He surpasses Dirk. He possesses skills that Dirk never had, and now the key is assembling the right supporting cast around him to ultimately secure a championship,” Kidd declared.

The Mavericks concluded the All-Star break on a high note, riding a six-game winning streak, which tied with the Boston Celtics for the longest active streak in the league. With a 32-23 record, they currently sit seventh in the Western Conference standings, trailing the Phoenix Suns and New Orleans Pelicans by just one game.

The potential logistics involved in Dončić departing from the Mavericks would be complex. He holds a player option valued at just under $49 million for the 2026-27 season, which he could opt out of. However, by doing so, he would be forgoing the opportunity to sign a potentially lucrative five-year, $318 million supermax contract extension. This extension could potentially make him the highest-paid player in NBA history, possibly earning over $70 million annually.