Nikola Jokic is currently a ghost in the Nuggets' lineup, and honestly, the NBA feels a little bit broken without him.
He hasn't touched the floor since December 29th. That night against the Heat—a brutal 147-123 blowout loss, by the way—he limped off with what was later diagnosed as a left knee hyperextension and a bone bruise. The initial timeline? Four weeks. Fans were basically bracing for a February return. But the Nikola Jokic news today is looking a whole lot brighter than that doom-and-gloom forecast.
Shams Charania dropped a bit of a bomb on ESPN’s NBA Today recently, reporting that the Joker has already resumed on-court workouts. He’s not just "on schedule"—he’s apparently ahead of it.
The Return Timeline: Is Late January Realistic?
Look, when you’re talking about a 7-foot, 284-pound center with a bone bruise, "rapid progress" is a phrase you love to hear but should handle with care. The Nuggets are being cautious. They have to be. But the word around the league is that a return by the end of January is now firmly on the table.
For a team that runs literally every single offensive set through one man’s brain, every day he spends in a tracksuit is a day the Nuggets are just trying to keep their heads above water. They’ve gone about .500 without him, which isn't terrible, but it's not Denver basketball. They beat the Mavericks 118-109 on January 14th, which was a huge "we can survive" statement, but nobody is fooled.
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Without Jokic, the offense goes from a beautiful, flowing symphony to a frantic game of "Jamal Murray, please save us."
MVP Race: Can Jokic Still Win a Fourth?
Before the injury, Jokic was putting up numbers that felt like a video game glitch. He was averaging 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 11.0 assists. Yes, a 30-point triple-double average while shooting 60.5% from the floor and a career-high 43.5% from deep. It's stupid. It shouldn't be possible for a human to be that efficient.
But here’s the kicker: the NBA’s 65-game rule.
To be eligible for MVP or All-NBA honors, a player has to play at least 65 games. Jokic has already missed nine. If he returns in late January, he’s still well within the safe zone. If this had dragged into mid-February, we’d be talking about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Jayson Tatum running away with the trophy by default.
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How the Nuggets are Surviving the Void
David Adelman—who’s been handling things on the bench—has had to get creative. You’ve probably noticed the rotation looks kinda funky lately.
- Jamal Murray is taking on a massive scoring load, putting up around 25.8 points per game.
- Zeke Nnaji and DaRon Holmes are splitting the "big man" duties, though neither provides the playmaking of a certain Serbian.
- Peyton Watson has stepped up his scoring, which has been a silver lining for the bench depth.
- Aaron Gordon has been the glue, basically playing three positions at once to keep the defense from collapsing.
The Nuggets are sitting at 28-13, good for 2nd or 3rd in a crowded Western Conference depending on the day. They’re 6.5 games back from the Thunder, who look like a juggernaut right now. Honestly, catching OKC might not even be the goal anymore; it’s about making sure Jokic is 100% for April, even if it means sliding to the 4th seed.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Injury
People hear "bone bruise" and think it’s just a sore spot. It’s actually more like a micro-fracture of the bone tissue. If you rush back and land wrong, you’re looking at a much more serious structural failure.
The reason the Nikola Jokic news today about on-court work is so significant is that it means the internal swelling is down enough to handle load-bearing impact. He’s doing the "Mikan drills," he’s shooting, and he’s testing that lateral movement.
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The Road Ahead: Key Dates to Watch
If you’re a fan or a fantasy manager, mark these games on your calendar. These are the likely "look-in" points for his return:
- January 25th @ Memphis: This would be slightly ahead of the 4-week mark.
- January 27th vs. Detroit: A "soft" home game to get his legs back under him.
- January 30th vs. LAC: The most likely target if they want him fully conditioned for a playoff-caliber matchup.
Your Move: How to Track the Comeback
If you’re trying to keep up with the latest, don’t just look at the box scores. Watch the pre-game warmups. If Jokic is out there in full gear doing high-intensity drills, the announcement is coming within 24-48 hours.
Check the Nuggets' official injury report specifically for the "re-evaluated" tag. Once that tag moves from "Out" to "Questionable," the Joker is officially back in the building. Until then, expect the Nuggets to keep leaning on Jamal Murray's heroics and a whole lot of grit to keep their top-three standing in the West.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Monitor the 65-game count: Keep a tally of Denver’s remaining schedule; Jokic can only miss about 8 more games before his MVP eligibility is in serious jeopardy.
- Watch the "Questionable" tag: Use the NBA’s official injury report (usually updated 1:30 PM ET on game days) to see when he moves from "Out" to "Doubtful" or "Questionable."
- Assess the standings: If Denver drops to 4th or 5th during this stretch, watch for the front office to potentially accelerate the return of other role players like Jonas Valanciunas to stabilize the ship.