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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 injuries this season.
The injury to Jokic happened with seconds left in the second quarter when teammate Spencer Jones stepped back and planted on Jokic’s left foot.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) goes on the court during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat in Miami, Florida on Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
The three-time MVP winner immediately fell to the ground in obvious pain and appeared to be clutching 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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“Right away, he knew something was wrong,” Nuggets head coach David Adelman said after the game. “Hey, this is part of the NBA. Anyone that gets hurt in this game, it’s kind of gut-wrenching, especially someone as special as he is.”
Adelman said the team will know more about the extent of the injury — and his recovery — when the MRI results come back on Tuesday.
“We’re moving forward as a team. Obviously right now I’m more worried 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 following an injury during the second quarter against the Miami Heat at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida on Dec. 29, 2025. (Sam Navarro/Imagn Images)
Jokic reportedly hyperextended his knee and could miss a few weeks at best. 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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Despite not returning for the second half, Jokic turned in 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 appearances, 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, regardless of where the level of injuries is compared to previous years, of course the soft tissue injuries worry us. All injuries worry us for that matter. The most frustrating issue right now and the one we seem to have the least control over is keeping star players on the floor.”
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) holds his knee after an injury against the Miami Heat in the second quarter at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida on Dec. 29, 2025. (Sam Navarro/Imagn Images)
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Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, 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 with injuries. Jokic has now been added to that list.
