Can Nikola Jokic still win NBA MVP? Why knee injury dashes Nuggets star's chances

Jeremy Beren

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Can Nikola Jokic still win NBA MVP? Why knee injury dashes Nuggets star's chances image

Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

After he underwent an MRI on Tuesday, Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic avoided the worst possible outcome from the knee injury he suffered in a loss to the Miami Heat on Monday night.

Jokic has a hyperextended left knee, but his ligaments are intact. Even still, the three-time NBA MVP is set for at least a month on the sidelines, which will impact his quest to join an exclusive group of MVP winners.

MORE: Did Nikola Jokic tear his ACL? MRI results reveal injury update Nuggets fans wanted

All season, Jokic has been a firm favorite to win his fourth MVP award, which would make him one of only six players in league history to claim at least that many. At the time of his injury, the 30-year-old was leading the league in assists and rebounds -- something no player ever has done.

However, if Jokic does not return within 31 days of his knee injury, he will be ineligible for all postseason awards -- including MVP and All-NBA honors.

Jokic has played in all 32 of Denver's games this season, and he must return by the time the Nuggets host the Brooklyn Nets on Jan. 29 to remain in MVP contention.

That would put Jokic at 17 games out, and the threshold for postseason award contention is 65 games played.

Unless Jokic makes a miraculous recovery and returns weeks earlier than expected, he will not win his fourth MVP award this season. It could bring with it more calls for commissioner Adam Silver to review the 65-game threshold, as few if any would argue that Jokic is not among the league's most valuable individual players.

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