Nuggets Give Nikola Jokic Update After Scary Injury

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MIAMI, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 29: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets reacts against the Miami Heat during the first quarter at Kaseya Center on December 29, 2025 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)

The Denver Nuggets are viewed as one of the NBA’s true championship contenders. Heading into the season, most NBA pundits picked them to be the second seed in the Western Conference, only behind the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Right now, the Nuggets sit third in the Western Conference standings. Despite struggling with injuries, they have played consistent basketball. Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon have been out for the last few weeks, hurting their depth. Still, Nikola Jokic has carried them.

In a game against the Miami Heat, Jokic left the game with a scary-looking knee injury. Following the game, Nuggets head coach David Adelman gave an update.

GettyDenver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic gestures. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)

Denver Nuggets Give Nikola Jokic Injury Update

Adelman addressed it early in his postgame press conference, and his information shouldn’t make fans feel better.

“All I know is that it’s just a left knee injury. He’s got to go through the whole process of what it is. I watched it at halftime, and it looked like his feet got tangled up with a teammate, and obviously, immediately, he knew something was wrong.”

Adelman went on to say that this is just part of the game.

“This is part of the NBA. Anybody that gets hurt in this game…it’s kind of gut-wrenching. Especially as special as he is. So we’ll find out more tomorrow, and we’ll move on as a team. Obviously right now, just more concerned about him as a person with the disappointment of going through something like that…we’re hoping for the best.”

That verbiage that Adelman used doesn’t bode well for what this injury could end up being. Jokic went down and grabbed his knee as soon as it happened, and this is an injury that could end up changing the fabric of the entire NBA.

This kind of injury now leaves the Nuggets with even less depth than they had before. Jokic is the MVP front-runner this season, so losing him for any length of time would be catastrophic.

GettyDenver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic dribbles the ball. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/Getty Images)

The Nuggets Can’t Afford to Lose Nikola Jokic

If Denver doesn’t have him for any significant length of time, their title chances diminish significantly. In fact, they likely are over. Right now, the Nuggets have the best offense in the NBA by a wide margin. That is due to Jokic’s ability to score and pass.

Jokic is one of the toughest players in the league. He has played at least 69 games in every year of his career. Without him, Jamal Murray will have to pick up a large chunk of the offense. If he can’t, the Nuggets are in a lot of trouble towards the middle part of this season.

Denver will likely do an MRI and find out exactly what is wrong with Jokic. At that point, they will make a determination if any roster moves need to be made. No roster move can bring in a player that makes the kind of impact that he does, though.

Ryan Stano Ryan Stano covers the NBA for Heavy.com. He has been covering sports since 2017, covering the NFL, College Football, College Basketball, and the NBA. His work has been featured on Yahoo, Bleacher Report, FanSided, and Sports Illustrated. More about Ryan Stano