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Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic appeared to suffer a knee injury just before halftime of Monday night’s game against the Miami Heat, adding to a growing list of NBA stars sidelined by injury this season.
Jokic’s injury occurred seconds before the end of the second quarter when teammate Spencer Jones stepped back and planted Jokic’s left foot.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) walks on the court during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat in Miami, Florida, December 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
The three-time MVP winner immediately fell to the ground in obvious pain and appeared to grab his left knee. He did not return to the court in the second half of Denver’s 147-123 loss to Miami.
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“Immediately he knew something was wrong,” Nuggets head coach David Adelman said after the game. “Hey, that’s part of the NBA. Anyone who gets hurt in that game, it’s a little heartbreaking, especially someone as special as him.”
Adelman said the team will know more about the extent of the injury — and his recovery — when the MRI results come back Tuesday.
“We’re going to move forward as a team. Obviously right now I’m more concerned about him as a person and the disappointment of going through something like this.”
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) grabs his left knee as head coach David Adelman approaches him after an injury against the Miami Heat during the second quarter at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida on December 29, 2025. (Sam Navarro/Imagn Images)
Jokic reportedly hyperextended his knee and, best-case scenario, he could miss just a few weeks. He entered Monday’s contest averaging 29.9 points, 12.4 rebounds and 11.1 assists and is already an early favorite in the MVP conversation.
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Although he did not return in the second half, Jokic had an outstanding performance with 21 points, eight assists and five rebounds.
Jokic became the latest NBA star to be sidelined this season, but NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is convinced that despite appearances, injuries are down this year.
“The data we have so far this season indicates we have the lowest number of injuries in the last three years,” Silver said this month. “I’ll stop here and say that regardless of the level of injuries compared to previous years, of course, soft tissue injuries concern us. All injuries concern us, in fact. The most frustrating problem right now, and the one over which we seemingly have the least control, is keeping star players on the field.”
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) holds his knee after an injury against the Miami Heat during the second quarter at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida on December 29, 2025. (Sam Navarro/Imagn Images)
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Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James and Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams are just a few of the big names who have missed significant time this season due to injuries. Jokic is now added to this list.
