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The basketball world can collectively exhale.
Three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic has been diagnosed with a hyperextended left knee and will be out at least four weeks, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Tuesday, with the Nuggets breathing a sigh of relief that their star avoided a season-ending injury.
Jokic, 30, was injured during Denver’s 147-123 blowout loss to the Heat in Miami on Monday night.
Nikola Jokic suffered a leg injury against the Miami Heat on Monday night. Sam Navarro-Imagn ImagesHe limped off the floor following the injury with just seconds to go before halftime on Monday night.
The Serbian superstar — who had already tallied 21 points, eight assists and five rebounds in just 19 minutes — fell to the hardwood after getting his shoe stepped on by teammate Spencer Jones, who was attempting to contest a drive by Miami forward Jaime Jaquez Jr.
Clutching his knee, Jokic rolled around in agony before getting helped to his feet by Denver’s training staff.
“Obviously, immediately he knew something was wrong… We’ll find out more tomorrow,” said Nuggets head coach David Adelman after the game. “It’s unfortunate. Hoping for the best.”
Initial speculation on the injury’s severity ranged from a bone bruise from the hyperextension to — in the worst case, yet very possible scenario — a torn ACL.
A twist of fate for one of the NBA’s most durable superstars, “The Joker” has played no fewer than 69 games in each of his last eight seasons.
And on the heels of an expert 2024-25 campaign, in which he became just the third player in NBA history to average a triple-double, Jokic picked up right where he left off.
Nikola Jokic had tallied 21 points, eight assists, and five rebounds in just 19 minutes against the Heat before his exit. Sam Navarro-Imagn ImagesThrough his first 31 games of the season, he averaged a career-high 29.9 points on outstanding 61/44/86 splits and led the league with 12.2 rebounds and 11 assists per contest.
The 2023 Finals MVP was fresh off one of the greatest performances in Christmas Day history, erupting for 56 points, 16 rebounds, and 15 assists in a thrilling overtime win against the Timberwolves.
Jokic’s extended absence marks a crushing blow to the Nuggets, who own a 22–10 record and the third seed in the highly competitive Western Conference.
Denver is already rolling out a lineup short of three starters, including Aaron Gordon (hamstring), Christian Braun (ankle), and Cam Johnson (knee).
The Nuggets have dropped four of their last six games and got outscored 84–60 by Miami after Jokic’s exit.
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