Injuries have bugged the Denver Nuggets since the beginning of the 2025–2026 NBA season, but the biggest blow thus far is Nikola Jokic’s recent knee injury, which he suffered against the Miami Heat. The injury—a hyperextended left knee—will force The Joker out for at least a month.
At first glance, Jokic’s injury was certainly terrifying, albeit not season-ending, which is fortunate for the Mile High City. However, with Jokic being out for such a long stretch for the first time in his 11-year career, there could be huge effects not just on the Nuggets, but also on the league and the fans.
Nuggets’ Seeding Moving Forward Is a Huge Toss-Up
The Nuggets, although undermanned since November, have stayed consistent in the West. As of this writing, they’re sitting at the third seed with a 23–10 record. However, without Jokic at the helm, the Nuggets will probably slide down the standings.
The Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Minnesota Timberwolves are all lurking behind the Nuggets and could take that No. 3 spot at any moment now. Although Denver’s January schedule isn’t exactly extra difficult, with the team’s biggest challenge being the Detroit Pistons, losing Nikola Jokic for at least a month will be a huge blow to their offense in particular. Last season, the Nuggets went 4–8 whenever the Serbian superstar didn’t play.
Despite the setback, the franchise and the fans are leaning toward a “glass half full” mindset. At the moment, the Nuggets won’t have Jokic for an extended period, and three of their key contributors—Aaron Gordon, Cam Johnson, and Jonas Valanciunas—are also currently sidelined. But the silver lining in this crucial, challenging stretch is that it may be high time for other Nuggets to step up.
Jamal Murray, who’s having the best season of his career, will have to do a lot of carrying in the next few weeks in particular to help Denver stay afloat in a stacked Western Conference. At this rate, and with the heavier load he will now be carrying, he might get his first All-Star call-up in February 2026. Murray is currently averaging 25.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 6.9 assists per game on 48.2–45.3–89.3 shooting splits. Don’t be surprised if those numbers go up in Jokic’s absence.
Ditto for Spencer Jones, Peyton Watson, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Bruce Brown. These four will have to chip in more and contribute offensively without Jokic’s brilliant playmaking. Now, this isn’t to say Jokic’s prolonged absence is a “blessing in disguise,” but the three-time MVP being out might result in his teammates being mentally and physically prepared for the grinding and pounding of the playoffs, where it matters most.
Another Implication: Nikola Jokic Out of the MVP Race
Given that the NBA has implemented the 65-game requirement for regular-season awards, Nikola Jokic would be out of MVP contention if he misses 18 games this season. Not only that, it would also render him ineligible for other awards, such as the All-NBA team, which he’s been part of since 2019.
Being sidelined until February would mean Nikola Jokic would surely miss at least 16 games. With the knee injury he suffered on December 30, there’s no doubt the Nuggets would rest their superstar even after the All-Star break to give him enough time to recover before the 2026 playoffs.
As a result, this will likely be the first time since 2019 that we won’t be seeing Jokic in the MVP race. The Joker, who was in the midst of his best season yet, was a heavy favorite for MVP over Oklahoma’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, with San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama, Los Angeles’ Luka Dončić, and Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards next in the MVP totem pole.
Jokic is set to make his return on or before the All-Star break on February 15, 2026. Before his injury, Nikola Jokic was averaging a staggering 29.6 points, 11.0 assists, and 12.2 rebounds while shooting 60.5% from the field and 45.3% from long range. But unless the NBA suddenly scraps the 65-game rule, Jokic will likely be out of the running for major awards—at least for this season.
But, for a team and fanbase with championship aspirations this season, that’s probably the least of their worries. At this point, the Nuggets and their fans probably just want Nikola Jokic to get better and be at 100% when he returns. If he is, then Denver might have a good chance of competing down the stretch.
