The Denver Nuggets spent the offseason building a roster that could at least tread water without Nikola Jokic, and their efforts might be about to be put to the test.
Jokic exited Monday night's game against the Miami Heat with a knee injury and did not return, sounding alarm bells for Nuggets fans and fans across the NBA who appreciate watching an all-time great player fill the stat sheet.
In a crowded Western Conference, Denver can hardly afford to fall behind without its star after losing four of six games.
Here's what you need to know about Jokic's injury and recovery timeline.
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Nikola Jokic knee injury update
Jokic appeared to hyperextend his knee after he was stepped on by teammate Spencer Jones under the basket during Monday's game against the Heat. After falling to the court in pain, Jokic walked off with a considerable limp and did not return.
The news on Tuesday was positive, however, as Amazon Prime Video's Chris Haynes reported Jokic avoided a major injury and is expected to miss only about a month of action.
After the loss, Nuggets coach David Adelman wasn't able to offer much of an initial update aside from revealing plans for Jokic to undergo an MRI on Tuesday. "It's kind of gut-wrenching, especially somebody as special as he is," Adelman told reporters. "We'll move on as a team. Obviously, right now, I'm more concerned just about him as a person and the disappointment of going through something like that."
Adelman said the Nuggets "will go through the process properly" and added that he was "hoping for the best."
The Nuggets are "hoping it’s just a bone bruise" for Jokic, Altitude TV's Vic Lombardi reported Tuesday, expressing optimism a major injury was avoided.
Nikola Jokic knee injury video
Here is a look at the play that ended Jokic's night against the Heat:
Nikola Jokic is down holding his knee 😳 pic.twitter.com/6kUNzTAopx
— Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) December 30, 2025
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How long is Nikola Jokic out?
Jokic is expected to miss about a month with a hyperextended knee, Haynes reported Tuesday.
An extended absence is a rare development for the three-time MVP, as Jokic hasn't missed more than five consecutive games since 2017, cementing himself as one of the NBA's most durable players during his emergence as an MVP-caliber player.
The Nuggets are already dealing with injuries to multiple starters, including Cameron Johnson and Aaron Gordon, so they won't even be at full strength outside of Jokic over the next month.
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What is a hyperextended knee?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, a hyperextension is "an injury that happens when your knee is bent backward beyond its usual limit."
A hyperextension is typically not a diagnosis in itself, but rather an occurrence that can cause ligament damage in the knee. That is why Jokic has to undergo an MRI on Tuesday to determine what he actually injured in his knee.
The Nuggets' hope is that Jokic mostly avoided ligament damage, with the ACL being the most crucial of the bunch, as they determine how long the former MVP will be out.