Nuggets star Nikola Jokic, who has been out since December 29 due to a hyperextended left knee and bone bruise, will be reevaluated in about one week, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Tuesday’s episode of NBA Today (Twitter video link).
Charania suggested a couple weeks ago that the Nuggets were optimistic about Jokic’s odds of returning to action before the end of the month. While it no longer sounds like that will happen, the veteran center hasn’t experienced any sort of setback, according to Charania, who says Jokic is making “great progress” and is in the “ramp-up phase of his return-to-play process.”
Given Jokic’s outsized impact, there was some concern in Denver about the team’s ability to maintain its position in the playoff race after Jokic went down — especially after the Nuggets lost second-string center Jonas Valanciunas to a calf strain in his first game as a starter. Last season, Denver went 4-8 in games Jokic missed.
However, the club has performed admirably without its MVP this season, going 9-5 since Jokic suffered his knee injury. Denver’s 31-15 record is tied for the second-best mark in the Western Conference.
As a result of the Nuggets’ strong play without Jokic and their desire to prioritize his long-term health, there’s little urgency to pursue an aggressive return timeline. The only downside of taking a little extra time to get Jokic ready is that it could cost him his award eligibility.
If Jokic doesn’t return to action by this Sunday (Feb. 1) vs. Oklahoma City, he’ll fall short of the 65-game minimum require to qualify for end-of-season honors. However, Charania suggests that’s a trade-off Jokic and the Nuggets are willing to make to ensure he’s 100% healthy and to reduce the risk of him aggravating this injury.
Jokic was putting up MVP-caliber numbers prior to the injury, averaging a career-high 29.6 points per game while leading the NBA with 12.2 rebounds and 11.0 assists per contest. His shooting line is an incredible .605/.435/.853.
I’m actually shocked he’s never been over 30ppg.
Cant have THAT many assists AND a high PPG. They dont avg 150 as a team.
He’s at 29.6 so obviously he’s capable.
Wait til April bud, a team in my fantasy league scored both Wemby and Joker.
How do you spell GOAT?
J O R D A N
Jokic is on par with Bill Walton
Bill Walton. Comical.
Same accomplishments almost
Jokic cannot guard a chair and Walton wasn’t shooting 3’s. Passing and rebounding are the same. Both won their team their first and only championship
Russel/Wilt
finished 1st or 2nd in MVP 5 years in a row
even MJ never did that (or kobe or lebron or magic)
larry bird did finish 1st or 2nd 6 years in a row
They didn’t want to give it to Jordan every year and he ended up with finals mvps.
Joker should have been MVP the last 5 seasons, he destroyed Embiid and SGA.
How many times did any of those you mentioned win the scoring title, MVP, finals MVP and all defensive 1st team in the same year? Jordan did that multiple times.
Just stating a cool fact about jokic, a great accomplishment. Ya’ll gettin so defensive lol. Nobody claiming MJ aint the best ever. Ya’ll need to calm down
I thought this was a continuation of the goat convo above lol