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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, joining a growing list of NBA stars sidelined by injuries this season.
Jokic’s injury occurred with seconds left in 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, on December 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
The three-time MVP winner immediately fell to the ground in obvious pain and appeared to clutch 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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“He immediately knew something was wrong,” Nuggets head coach David Adelman said after the game. “Hey, this is part of the NBA. Anyone who gets hurt in this game is 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’ll 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 that.”
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/Image Images)
Jokic reportedly hyperextended his knee and could miss only a few weeks at best. He entered Monday’s contest averaging 29.9 points, 12.4 rebounds and 11.1 assists and is already one of the favorites in the MVP conversation.
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Despite not returning in the second half, Jokic put together a stellar 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 confident that despite the appearance, injuries have decreased this year.
“The data we have so far this season is that we have the lowest number of injuries in the last three years,” Silver said this month. “I’ll stop there and say that regardless of where the injury level is compared to previous years, of course soft tissue injuries concern us. All injuries concern us, in fact. The most frustrating issue right now, and the one we seemingly have the least control over, is keeping star players on the court.”
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/Image Images)
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Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers and Jalen Williams of Oklahoma City are just a few of the big names who have missed significant time this season due to injuries. Jokic now joins that list.
