Nuggets' Nikola Jokic expected to play in Orlando after contracting COVID-19

One week after reports surfaced that Nuggets center Nikola Jokic tested positive for the coronavirus, Denver coach Michael Malone declared the best passing big man in the Association today should be good to go for the NBA's 22-team resumption that's set to tip off on July 30. 

Per ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk, Malone updated Jokic's status during a Wednesday media-availability call and said his center feels no ill-effects of the virus:

"We are working on getting him back here. Next Tuesday we depart for Orlando; the hope and expectation is that Nikola Jokic will be with us on that plane. From everything that I have heard and talked to him, he feels great, he feels fine and is excited to get back."

As Youngmisuk explained, Jokic must return two negative coronavirus tests within 24 hours to get cleared to travel from Serbia to the United States. He'll undergo testing and additional health screenings in Denver before players and other club personnel depart for the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Florida. 

Denver is scheduled to head to Orlando on July 7. 

Jokic averaged 20.2 points, 10.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists across 65 regular-season appearances before the league suspended play on March 11 because of the uncontrolled virus outbreak.