Denver’s ironman Nikola Jokić avoided the worst-case scenario after hyperextending his knee against the Miami Heat.
The Nuggets announced on Tuesday that Jokić suffered a “left knee hyperextension injury.” But that’s a vague description. A hyperextension is not really a diagnosis. For now, the most critical information is that he will not miss the rest of the season and will be reevaluated in four weeks.
Jokić could be dealing with a bone contusion, also known as a bone bruise, which Cam Johnson recently suffered. It’s worth noting that in both cases, a hyperextension occurred, they avoided season-ending ligament damage, and the medical staff set a timeline of at least 4 weeks before further evaluation.
The injury derails a historic season for the Serbian sensation. Jokić has averaged 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 11.0 assists with a 66.5 effective field goal percentage. He’s already notched one player of the month award, and may still do it again in December. He was in another two-man race for the MVP award, but this injury could render him ineligible.
Ultimately, this update brings major relief, yet it’s also something short of good news. Missing your best player for at least a month is a harrowing prospect, and in Denver’s case, it’s compounded by multiple injuries to the starting lineup. They’ve lost Christian Braun to a high ankle sprain, Aaron Gordon to a hamstring strain, and Johnson to a bone bruise.
Jamal Murray is the lone remaining starter, and even he turned his ankle against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Christmas. It’s still causing him visible discomfort.
Reinforcements are on the way, with Gordon and Braun’s return on the horizon. David Adelman said over the weekend that they could play on this road trip. Still, Murray must stay healthy as he fights to keep the operation afloat.
The Nuggets are in a precarious position. The weight of the world is on Murray’s shoulders for now. Gordon and Braun will have to be effective immediately upon returning from injury. And Adelman will have to configure a second unit without Johnson, who played a key role in the revamped non-Jokić minutes.
Of course, they’re all non-Jokić minutes now, at least for the next month.
The Nuggets are only three games ahead of the Phoenix Suns for seventh place in the Western Conference. Their work is cut out for them if they’re to maintain a competitive position in a tight race.
All the same, there was a collective exhale in the Mile High City, Serbia, and around the NBA universe when we learned the news. The best player alive will not miss the rest of the season. And the Nuggets, if they can hold on long enough, still have a chance to do something special together.
