The NBA offseason is winding down, and soon the 2025-26 regular season will begin.

More news: Warriors’ Draymond Green Calls Out West Rival in Brutal Message

However, before things tip off on this side of the world, on the other side of the world, some of the best players in the world are duking it out in FIBA EuroBasket 2025.

Two of the best players squared off against each other on Thursday: Lakers superstar Luka Doncic and Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic.

The two have been friends for a long time, and with rumors floating around regarding a potential team-up in the NBA, they were only intensified after their embrace following the meeting between their two respective countries, Serbia and Slovenia.

Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic

Luka Doncic (R) of Slovenia in action against Nikola Jokic (L) of Serbia during the International Basketball Friendly match between Serbia and Slovenia at Belgrade Arena on August 21, 2025 in Belgrade, Serbia. Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images
Watch as Doncic and Jokic embrace, and Jokic leans in for a kiss on the cheek to Doncic:

Doncic and Jokic are currently rivals in the NBA as they both lead two of the best teams in the Western Conference. While that is the case, there is a chance the two could pair up in the NBA. If that happens to be the case, the likely destination is with the Lakers.

Jokic is under contract with the Nuggets through the 2027-28 season with a player option for the final year of his deal. However, he could be a free agent in the summer of 2027.

If Jokic chooses to become a free agent, the Lakers will be one of the teams that could offer him a supermax contract. The Lakers are preserving cap space for 2027 when Jokic and Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo could become unrestricted free agents.

The Lakers are known for landing and pairing big stars. They currently have one young superstar on their side in Doncic, and the hope is that after LeBron James retires, they find another superstar to pair with the 26-year-old.

The expectation is that Doncic will remain in Los Angeles for the rest of his career, and the same could be said for Jokic in Denver.

The three-time MVP has shown no indication that he wants to leave the Mile High City, and there is a chance the Nuggets could make a run at Doncic when he possibly becomes a free agent in the summer of 2028.

There is nothing set in stone as things stand, but a potential Doncic and Jokic team-up would be dangerous for the other 29 teams.