Latest on Nikola Jokic

The Nuggets announced Tuesday that Nikola Jokic will be reevaluated in four weeks after being diagnosed with a hyperextension of his left knee.

Jokic suffered the injury during Monday’s game against Miami. Early reporting out of Serbia suggested the three-time MVP had avoided major damage, and the team’s update confirmed as much.

According to Shams Charania of ESPN, testing showed Jokic’s knee ligaments are intact, a significant relief for Denver.

Still, a return at the four-week mark is far from guaranteed. Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints has suggested Jokic could miss closer to six weeks, which would make this the longest absence of his NBA career.

The timing is less than ideal. Denver was already without three starters, including Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, and Cameron Johnson. With Jokic now sidelined, Jamal Murray is the only opening night starter currently available.

Head coach David Adelman said Gordon and Braun could return during the current road trip, which runs through January 7. Until then, Denver is expected to lean on Jonas Valanciunas, Tim Hardaway Jr., Peyton Watson, and Spencer Jones to fill gaps.

Denver sits at 22-10 and remains well-positioned in the Western Conference, but the margin is thin. 

There is also an awards wrinkle. Jokic can miss no more than 17 games to remain eligible for end-of-season honors. Denver plays 18 times between now and the end of January, putting his seven-year All-NBA streak and recent MVP runs at risk.

Before the injury, Jokic was again producing at a historic level, averaging 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 11.0 assists while driving a massive on-off impact for Denver.

The Nuggets can survive stretches without him. But replacing what Jokic does, even temporarily, is another matter entirely.