One could read this headline and think this suggestion is an NBA 2K fantasy type of trade; a fever dream of an acquisition that can only exist in a video-game world. I would normally agree. However… I think the Nuggets have an actual shot to go for Giannis Antetokounmpo, assuming he is available.
I should’ve prefaced this with a disclaimer that, for starters, this is only if Giannis is available. Trading Jamal, even with the unfortunate bad run of games, and Aaron Gordon, with the nagging injury problems, should be treated with caution.
Jamal is not some random contract to throw into a fake trade machine. He is a championship guard, has championship DNA, and still gives Denver a level of shot-making that is not easy to replace. Aaron Gordon is also not some throw-in. His athleticism, positional sense, chemistry with Jokic, rebounding, improved three-point shooting, and ability to defend multiple positions are very hard to replace in a vacuum.
So this is not me saying, “dump Jamal and AG.” It is more so asking the uncomfortable question: if Giannis Antetokounmpo is truly available, is that the one type of player who forces you to put your best offer on the table?
Before even getting into the trade package, I think the more important question is simple: Does Giannis actually make sense for the Denver Nuggets?
You are talking about pairing Nikola Jokic with Giannis Antetokounmpo? That doesn’t seem real, palpable, or in some ways fair. But alas, here we are in a world where a trade is more than feasible. However, just because we could, doesn’t mean we should.
Here are the reasons why I think we could (and in some cases should).
(For this post, I will be using screenshots and references from the Spotrac Trade Machine, CraftedNBA, StatMuse, Databallr, other sites like these.)
1. The Historical Evidence
Throughout NBA history, there have been 29 regular-season teams that have been able to have two 26 point-per-game scorers on their roster. The 60s and 70s Lakers interchanged between West, Baylor, Chamberlain, and Goodrich multiple times. Bird and McHale had one season of this. Shaq and Kobe did this twice. Curry and Durant did this twice. Luka and Kyrie did this twice, etc.
Out of the 29 regular-season teams, 6 of these teams had one of these players acquired mid-season, so they didn’t gel in time, or they had an injury in the middle of or right before their run. Some examples include: Durant tearing his Achilles in the 2019 Finals. Durant and Irving, plus James Harden, getting hammered by injuries against Giannis in 2021. The Pelicans being a bottom-feeder by the time DeMarcus Cousins got there, only for Cousins to encounter the worst injury in basketball a year later. Embiid having injury troubles for the Sixers in the 2024 season, when they and he got off to a great start.
That leaves us with 23 healthy teams. And out of these 23 teams, 13 of them went to a Conference Final or better in their run. I completely understand this stat is not fully gospel or completely reflective of NBA history. Additionally, Jamal Murray missed this mark by 0.1 PPG, averaging 25.4 PPG for the season.
This is just to point out that there have been places in history where two historical scorers were put together, and their respective runs of dominance could only be stopped by injury or just not being able to play a full season or gel on time.
But the difference between the 26-point duos of yesteryear and the potential duo of Giannis and Jokic is that both are all-time greats in efficiency, floor gravity, size, and offensive versatility in ways that other duos, who shine in different ways, simply did not have.
There have only been a few occurrences in NBA history where two players on the same team both averaged at least 24 PPG and 10 RPG.
The closest reference we have is Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins, who were more injury-prone than effective and barely played together over the course of two seasons. We can wholeheartedly agree that AD and Boogie in their primes were great, but AD is not Giannis and Boogie is not Jokic. The Greek Freak and the Joker exist in a different class of player and dominance.
In the 48 games AD and Cousins played together, they went 27-21. The team was league average in 3P%, as the roster wasn’t filled with 3&D players. We will never know this duo’s full potential, as it was over before it started.
Including this duo, there have only been two other cases in NBA history where there were two 24 PPG, 10 RPG players on the same team. Both were pre-3PT era. Both teams lost in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. The 1960 Hawks had Bob Pettit, who averaged 26 PPG and 17 RPG, and Cliff Hagan, who averaged 24.8 PPG and 10.7 RPG. The 1970 Lakers had Wilt Chamberlain, who only played 12 games due to a devastating knee injury and returned for the playoffs, and Elgin Baylor, who also missed 28 games. Wilt averaged 27.3 PPG and 18.4 RPG, while Baylor averaged 24.0 PPG and 10.4 RPG. The 1970 Finals was the historic Willis Reed Game 7.
Considering the noted injury issues of Boogie and AD, albeit their talent, and the unfortunate injuries to Wilt and Baylor, it is safe to say that Jokic and Giannis, whether by accolade or current ability, would stand in a different category if both are healthy.
There has never been a time in NBA history where the undisputed best power forward and undisputed best center have played together at the same time.
Assuming both are healthy, this would be unprecedented.
Again, the way I am framing it sounds like child’s play, but we are talking about the crème de la crème at the 4 and 5 positions. In some ways, these are the only realistic references that I can output for a duo that collectively has 5 MVPs, 2 championships, and are still in their relative primes.
2. Solving the Non-Jokic/Giannis Minutes and Re-establishing a Defensive Identity
Historically, these two and their respective teams, alongside LeBron-led and Curry-led teams, have struggled in the minutes when their star has gone to the bench. More so, Jokic in recent memory, leading to drastic on/off splits.
The interesting part is that the problem has shown up differently for both players.
With Giannis teams, with him off the floor, the issue has often been defensive. When he sits, Milwaukee loses the weakside fear factor, the defensive rebounding, the transition deterrence, and the ability to erase mistakes at the rim. Per Databallr, in 2025, Milwaukee’s defensive rating was 5.1 points better with Giannis on the floor. In other words, when Giannis leaves the floor, the Bucks’ defense has historically become easier to attack.
With Jokic teams, with him off the floor, the issue has often been offensive. When he sits, Denver loses the entire offensive operating system. The handoffs, cuts, spacing, passing angles, late-clock problem solving, and general offensive flow all become harder. Via Databallr, in 2026, Denver’s offensive rating was 16.6 points better with Jokic on the floor. Denver’s offense consistently looks like a completely different unit when Jokic leaves the floor.
That is what makes the pairing so interesting. Giannis’ biggest “sit-down” problem has historically been Milwaukee losing defensive control. Jokic’s biggest “sit-down” problem has historically been Denver losing offensive control. Together, they theoretically cover the exact area where the other team has historically fallen apart.
This trade may very well be the final solution to that issue, while giving both stars, who are in the 99th percentile in offensive load (per CraftedNBA), time to properly rest and not overtly worry if a lead is going to get squandered when they go to the bench.
Continuing from the last point, the non-Jokic minutes have also been affected because the backup bigs that have historically been brought in-game have offered little rim protection. Giannis solves that.
Giannis' Defensive Metrics in 2026
Although, like aging defensive greats such as Kawhi and Draymond, Giannis may not be the exact same athletic monster he was at his peak, he is still a great defender due to his wingspan, athleticism, instincts, and defensive rebounding.
The team would lose nothing on offense as well, as his capability to run the Nuggets’ premier pick-and-roll and handoff actions is not something uncommon to him.
Denver would finally have a real structure for the non-Jokic minutes. Giannis can anchor those stretches with defense, rebounding, rim pressure, and transition play, while Jokic gets actual rest instead of watching leads disappear.
The value is simple: for most of the game, Denver could have at least one MVP-level player stabilizing the floor, similar to how Miami staggered Wade and LeBron, or how Golden State could survive and dominate stretches with either Curry or Durant leading the offense.
3. What Would Our Roster Construction Be Like?
If this trade were to go through, the Nuggets would have to be very intentional with the rest of the roster. The team would most likely have to re-sign Peyton Watson and fill the remaining spots with low-maintenance 3&D mercenaries, plus probably one ball-handling guard who can settle the offense when needed.
The starting five could potentially look like this:
PG – Christian Braun — 6’6”
SG – Peyton Watson — 6’8”
SF – Cameron Johnson — 6’8”
PF – Giannis Antetokounmpo — 6’11”
C – Nikola Jokic — 6’11”
That lineup would not have a traditional point guard, but that may be the point. With Jokic and Giannis both being able to bring the ball up, initiate offense, and attract intense defensive attention, a traditional PG may not be required in the starting five. The more important element may be spacing, size, defense, and having enough connectors around them to punish double teams.
The closest historical reference would be teams that used bigger, non-traditional guards as connectors instead of relying on a small, ball-dominant point guard. During the second Bulls three-peat, Ron Harper Sr., a 6’6” former scoring guard whose role changed after injuries, was converted into more of a defensive “point guard.” He was not there to dominate the ball, but to defend, keep the offense connected, and allow the main creators to operate.
Shaun Livingston played a similar connector role in Golden State’s second unit. At 6’7”, he gave them size, poise, and the ability to punish smaller guards without needing to dominate possessions.
There is also a spacing version of this idea. The 2012-13 Heat could field lineups with LeBron, Wade, Shane Battier, Ray Allen, and Chris Bosh in certain spots, allowing them to maximize spacing while still letting their best players initiate and attack. That is closer to what Denver would need around Jokic and Giannis: enough shooting and connective pieces to make the double teams expensive.
That is the type of roster construction Denver could lean into. Braun, Watson, Johnson, Giannis, and Jokic would give Denver size across the floor, while still allowing Jokic and Giannis to be the main offensive hubs. The rest of the roster would need to be filled with players who can defend, shoot enough, cut hard, and act as connectors without needing many touches.
The traditional point guard is still good to keep around. As we saw the difference between Tyus Jones and Jamal Murray in these playoffs, keeping one traditional PG on the roster can alleviate ball pressure in tight situations.
But the broad roster idea would be simple: surround Jokic and Giannis with size, defense, shooting, and low-maintenance role players.
4. The Looming, If Not Inevitable, Reign of Victor Wembanyama
Victor Wembanyama may very well be on his way to establishing a level of terror and fear in the league that has only been eclipsed by so few players. The adage “two heads are better than one” comes to mind. The question is simple. We are asking or gambling on the generational greatness of Victor.
If the Spurs were to run into the Nuggets with the addition of Giannis, and everyone is healthy, can Victor Wembanyama stop not one, but two historically all-time great big men, four times out of seven?
I think he can bother one of them. And I mean this loosely, as we are talking about Jokic and Giannis here, top of their class. If they were playing by themselves, he could focus his energy on one of them. But the evidence suggests he won’t be able to stop two of them.
Giannis playing with Jokic is not Shaq playing with Kobe. It is not a bonafide scoring guard playing with a hyper-efficient big. We have seen that played out with Curry and Durant, and in a hybrid type of extent, Wade and LeBron.
Giannis playing with Jokic is asking the question: What if 2000 MVP Shaq or 1994 Hakeem, the best centers in the world, played with 2004 Kevin Garnett, 2002 Tim Duncan, or 1997 Karl Malone, the best power forwards in the world?
(I understand that sounds elementary, but that is the level of player reference I have to use when we are talking about two players who are either former MVPs or still producing at an MVP level.)
The odds could be stacked against Victor and the Spurs (for a short while). Historically great pairs have found ways to win. Shaq and Kobe figured it out. Wade and LeBron figured it out. Curry and Durant figured it out. Perennial contention continued even as age or wear and tear got to them. It is extremely difficult to deal with two all-time greats playing at the peak of their powers.
To use Tim Duncan as an example: all-time great, all-time great defender, backed by historic Spurs teams who prided themselves on defense. He lost to Shaq and Kobe three times in four years: 2001, 2002, and 2004. Sweep, five games, and six games respectively. He inevitably took one series in 2003 in six games. However, to no fault of Duncan's, that was near the height of the Kobe/Shaq war.
Nonetheless, one ring in four tries against two all-time greats for Duncan. He had 60-win seasons. He had back-to-back MVPs. And he only came out with one ring before the Shaq/Kobe split in 2004.
The math isn’t objective, but if I am to use The Big Fundamental as a baseline, I must assume that Nikola and Giannis would have a similar impact on the league, and more specifically in dealing with Victor’s defensive gravity, considering that this isn’t the normal big-guy/little-guy tandem.
So What Would the Trade Actually Look Like?
With that in mind, I think this would be Denver’s best package that does not deplete the roster just to meet roster compliance, and does not run us into pick trouble, considering teams can’t trade subsequent firsts and some of our picks are already protected.
The Denver offer would have to include the following:
Nuggets receive:
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Bobby Portis
Bucks receive:
Jamal Murray
Aaron Gordon
2026 or 2027 1st Round Pick
2031 1st Round Pick
Why Would Milwaukee Do This?
Milwaukee’s backcourt issue is solved by adding an All-Star; a person who has championship DNA and has some experience being the guy without a running mate.
Jamal Murray without Jokic this year, according to StatMuse, averaged 27.8 PPG, 8.3 APG, and 4.2 RPG on 49.6% from the field and 40.5% from beyond the arc. The record was 7-5, a small sample size, but that is a 47/48-win pace without Jokic. His stock, respectfully, has also never been higher, even with the struggles in the playoffs. He can also be a great mentor for an up-and-coming player in Ryan Rollins.
Milwaukee also adds a veteran, versatile, proven key rotation piece in Aaron Gordon. Injuries aside, Aaron Gordon had another great year for the Nuggets. He finished the year with 16 PPG and 5.8 RPG, while shooting 39% from three. He helps balance the Milwaukee starting five, giving them wing depth, size, and defense. He also has a team-friendly contract.
A new Milwaukee starting five could look like:
PG – Jamal Murray
SG – Ryan Rollins
SF – Kyle Kuzma or Aaron Gordon
PF – Kyle Kuzma or Aaron Gordon
C – Myles Turner
To reiterate, Denver may be the only team that can solve Milwaukee’s backcourt issue with a proven All-Star-level player, add championship-level experience with both pieces being sent over, and give the Bucks the best chance to remain competitive in the East.
Of course, this depends on Milwaukee’s prerogative. If the Bucks want to remain remotely competitive, Denver’s offer has a real argument. If they want to rebuild from the ground up and prioritize future picks above all else, then another team may be able to beat the package from a long-term asset perspective.
How Does Denver’s Offer Compare to the Rest of the League?
(Disclaimer: I only looked at two-team trade structures here. This does not include potential three-team or larger trade constructions.)
The New York Knicks
New York can get into the conversation in two different ways.
The first path would be a cleaner star-for-star structure around Karl-Anthony Towns plus picks. That gives Milwaukee a proven All-NBA level big who can help them stay competitive right away, but it also creates some overlap with their current frontcourt situation. If Milwaukee already has Myles Turner, Bobby Portis, and Kyle Kuzma, then adding KAT still does not solve their backcourt issue.
The second path would be built around OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and picks. That gives Milwaukee strong playoff role players, defensive toughness, and wing depth, but it does not give them a true primary guard or a clear number-one offensive option.
So while New York can put together a competitive offer, both versions come with a question: does Milwaukee want more frontcourt/wing depth, or do they want a proven championship guard who can immediately stabilize the backcourt?
The Miami Heat
Miami can also make a financially workable offer.
A structure around Tyler Herro, Nikola Jovic, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and multiple firsts gives Milwaukee a younger package with scoring, size, and developmental upside. Herro gives them a real backcourt scorer, Jovic gives them a bigger forward with some skill, and Jaquez gives them a tough rotation wing.
There is also a bigger version of a Miami package built around Bam Adebayo, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and multiple firsts. As a disclaimer, Giannis and Bam have the same agent, so I doubt this would be a trade option both sides would consider, but for argument’s sake, I’ve included it. Bam would give Milwaukee a proven All-Star-level big and defensive anchor, but again, this pushes Milwaukee further into a frontcourt-heavy build and still does not directly solve their backcourt issue.
The issue with Miami is that both packages come with a question. The Herro version leans more toward future value than immediate contention, while the Bam version gives Milwaukee the better player but creates a clunky positional fit with their current frontcourt. Herro is a good player, but he is not at Jamal Murray’s playoff résumé level. Jovic and Jaquez are interesting young pieces, but they are still more projection than proven high-end playoff pieces.
So Miami’s offer may be cleaner and younger, and the Bam version may have more star value, but if Milwaukee is trying to remain competitive in the East right away with a balanced roster, Denver’s package still has the advantage of giving them a championship guard and a proven veteran forward.
As an aside, is a Miami team with Giannis, Bam, and one of Wiggins/Powell resigned, competitive enough in the East?
The Golden State Warriors
Golden State brings obvious star appeal with the potential to play with Steph Curry.
But at what cost?
Golden State would have to do some cost-shedding to keep the Steph-Dray core together. That core, while still effective, is going to encounter Father Time one way or another soon. Their roster would be depleted, but alas, that would be their own cup of tea.
The flip side is that Milwaukee would be getting an aging, injury-prone, sometimes locker-room problem of a star in Jimmy Butler. Yes, he has connections to Wisconsin, which is good, but they don’t really get enough in return, and again, their backcourt issues are not solved with this trade.
The Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves can swing a decent package for Giannis and create a tantalizing pairing of Anthony Edwards and Giannis, while keeping Gobert and Naz Reid. Jaden McDaniels’ stock has skyrocketed, and it may never be higher due to his play. Julius Randle, who has a history of coming small in big moments, is still a former All-Star who can still give you 20 PPG, 10 RPG, and 5 APG quite easily.
The Timberwolves’ spacing, however, would be a little off, as Giannis and Gobert on the floor would be great defensively but could clog the paint and create a logjam in the middle of the floor. This becomes even more questionable considering they recently lost Donte DiVincenzo to an Achilles injury, removing one of the very pieces who would help make the spacing and guard rotation work around Anthony Edwards and Giannis.
This trade gives the Bucks a decent frontcourt, but they would still be lagging in the backcourt, with no real primary PG or SG on their roster.
Why Denver’s Package Has a Slight Edge
Trades from other teams are still somewhat lopsided. They either add more frontcourt/wing depth to a Milwaukee team that already has Turner, Portis, and Kuzma, like some of the New York or Minnesota structures, or they lean more toward future value than immediate contention, like Miami.
Golden State brings star appeal, but the package would center around an aging Jimmy Butler, and it still does not fully solve Milwaukee’s backcourt issue.
Denver’s package is different. Milwaukee gets a championship-level guard in Jamal Murray, an extremely valuable rotational piece and veteran presence in Aaron Gordon, and picks. That gives them probably the best “try to stay competitive now” package before fully embracing a ground-up rebuild.
In other words, if Milwaukee wants to remain credible in the East without immediately bottoming out, Denver’s offer has a real argument. If they want the cleanest future-facing rebuild package, then another team may be able to beat it with more picks or younger prospects.
How Long Would Our Championship Window be, Specifically With Giannis?
What we have learned from today’s NBA is that players are spitting in the face of Father Time in terms of longevity. LeBron is only now slowing down. Kawhi had a renaissance season. Durant is still averaging 25. These guys are 35+ years old and are still franchise cornerstone pieces. Modern medicine, training, and regime are helping to keep the older younger.
That’s all to say that barring major injury, the Nuggets with Giannis would have a championship window through 2030. But for argument’s sake, let’s just take this upcoming year, 2026-27, and assume both players opt into their contracts for the 2027-28 season.
Could the Denver Nuggets win a championship in two years with both Jokic and Giannis healthy?
I think, in short, yes. But not just because of their individual greatness. It is also because of the current CBA handicapping teams from forming, and the new anti-tanking draft proposal that’s currently on the table. In layman’s terms: teams are somewhat stuck with who they have at least through the 2028-29 season.
We have no reason to believe the Spurs are not going to offer max money to Castle, and of course Victor. OKC has already committed to Chet, SGA, and J-Will. The Celtics have wrapped up Brown and Tatum. The Knicks have their core as well. These are the four teams that people would probably call genuine, year-by-year contenders.
Contending Teams are locked into the players they have (over-)valued. The rest of the league’s fringe or rotational pieces are severely overpaid or haven’t developed into the stars they may have once been thought to become. In some cases, teams have moved on or may seek to move on from their plan too quickly if things don't go their way— Dallas, Phoenix, the Clippers, Houston, maybe Cleveland — and due to their sharp pivots, they don’t get better and remain in the same 3-4-5-6 position in their respective conference.
And then there is us.
A team who, with Jokic (who I and many others think is the best player in the world), has a intriguing opportunity to give him a historical Hall of Fame running mate, and vice versa. A team that would compete in a Western Conference where most stars are top-locked contract-wise through 2029.
Do I believe in a 2-to-3-year window, together, they can bring home one world championship? Considering their nearly identical legacy resumes, a championship together would reshape how both are talked about historically.
This idea sounds too whimsical to be true, or real, or anything short of fan fiction. But do I believe that if Giannis was acquired by the Denver Nuggets this upcoming offseason, they could make it work?
My answer: With the right coaching, role players, and good health. I think like many duos before, they could.
Would Giannis leave Milwaukee for Denver (another small-market team)? It depends on what he wants for the 2nd-half of his career. But if answer is legacy, and the threat to win on a yearly basis for the next half-decade or so, then he may have to give the Nuggets a second look.