The basketball world froze when Nikola Jokic, widely regarded as one of the best players on the planet, collapsed in visible pain late in the second quarter of the game in Miami. Grabbing his left knee and clearly distressed, the Serbian center went down in what immediately raised fears across the NBA. His Denver Nuggets, already missing four starters, would go on to lose the game against the Miami Heat, a rematch—albeit without rivalry tension—of the 2023 NBA Finals that delivered the first championship in franchise history, with Jokic as Finals MVP.

For a moment, it felt as if the entire league stood still. Not only because injuries are never welcome, but because a serious setback for Jokic would have dramatically altered the NBA landscape. Entering the season, Denver had been viewed as the main threat to prevent the Oklahoma City Thunder from becoming the first repeat champions since the Golden State Warriors of Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant in 2017 and 2018. A long-term injury would have forced a complete reshuffling of Western Conference expectations.

A Scare With a Favorable Diagnosis

Thankfully, the worst fears were avoided. As first reported by Serbian media and later confirmed by Shams Charania (ESPN), the injury was diagnosed as a hyperextension of the left knee—one of the best possible outcomes given how alarming the incident looked on the court. The projected recovery timeline is approximately one month, possibly slightly longer, but crucially, there is no ligament damage and no long-term structural concern.

It is undoubtedly bad news, but far from catastrophic. Considering the initial panic, this is a scenario both Jokic and the Nuggets would have signed for immediately after the game. Still, Denver now faces a difficult stretch with a severely depleted rotation.

Denver’s Depth Put to the Test

Jokic becomes the fourth injured starter for Denver, joining Christian Braun (ankle), Aaron Gordon (hamstring), and Cam Johnson (knee). Veteran reporter Vic Lombardi, who closely covers the Nuggets, had already hinted at a hyperextension scenario earlier in the day—an assessment that medical tests in Miami later confirmed.

As things stand, Jamal Murray is the only regular starter fully available for head coach David Adelman in the upcoming games. While the situation is precarious, it pales in comparison to what could have been.

Before the injury wave, Denver opened the season 12–3, ranking top five in both offensive and defensive efficiency. Jokic himself was once again in MVP form, averaging 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 11 assists, leading the league in rebounds and assists while ranking among the top scorers.

NBA rules now require players to appear in at least 65 games to be MVP-eligible. Historically durable, Jokic had never played fewer than 69 games in a season—until now. That streak will end, but the bigger picture remains intact: Nikola Jokic will return, and the Nuggets’ championship hopes are still very much alive.