Everything seemed to be running smoothly in the league, with only the usual trade window chaos. But no one could have foreseen Luka Doncic donning a purple and gold jersey. The move was so shocking that it sent ripples through the NBA, with some even speculating that Shams Charania’s social media had been hacked. But no, it was real. And just as things began to settle, a fresh rumor surfaced—this time involving Nikola Jokic.

While investigating Luka Doncic’s trade to the Lakers, Sam Amick of The Athletic discovered that Dallas initially approached another team before LA with an offer for the Slovenian star. That team, however, turned it down. Soon, speculation started swirling, with the most popular theory suggesting that the other team was the Denver Nuggets.

For those who believe this is mere speculation, past evidence supports the possibility of Denver being that team. On the DNVR podcast, insider Marc Stein discussed the bond between Doncic and Jokic and whether they could ever play together. “I mean, I think you can see it, that there’s just a genuine fondness there,” he said, referencing last year’s All-Star weekend. “They get along great, and of course, that leads everyone to wonder if they’ll ever team up. You know, it’s hard for me to imagine a scenario where one team could find a way to get both of them.”

Stein also stressed that their strong connection naturally fuels speculation about a potential pairing. “It’s hard for me to imagine a scenario where one team could find a way to get both of them,” he reiterated.