Nikola Jokic
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Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets is a three-time NBA MVP.
The Denver Nuggets are still managing to stay afloat in the Western Conference without Nikola Jokic and Cameron Johnson due to knee injuries. An NBA insider has shared an update on the potential return timeline for both players.
According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, Jokic and Johnson are making similar progress in their recovery from injury. Stein reported that Nuggets fans would likely see both make their return in early February.
“Early February increasingly looks like it could be the soonest that Nikola Jokic and Cam Johnson, both felled by recent knee injuries, can realistically return to the Nuggets’ lineup,” Stein wrote.
The three-time MVP suffered a left knee injury on December 29 against the Miami Heat after teammate Spencer Jones accidentally stepped on his foot. It caused the knee to buckle, which resulted in a hyperextension, as reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Johnson tweaked his right knee a week earlier than Jokic on December 23 in the Nuggets’ loss to the Dallas Mavericks. He was diagnosed with a bone bruise and knee hyperextension.
Jokic and Johnson Initial Timeline
According to Shams Charania’s report, Nikola Jokic was given a recovery timeline of four weeks. That would put his tentative return on January 26, but the recent pushback from Marc Stein meant that the Denver Nuggets are being cautious.
The Nuggets are managing to stay afloat in the loaded West despite injuries to their starters since the season started. There were a lot of doubts about Denver’s ability to maintain its spot in the standings amid Jokic’s recovery, but Jamal Murray and the rest of the team are proving their doubters wrong.
Since Jokic’s injury, the Nuggets have a record of 4-3 and have wins over top teams like the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers.
As for Johnson, he was given four to six weeks to recover from his right knee injury. Based on the six-week timeline, he would be cleared by February 3.
That’s closer to Stein’s timeline, so it’s safe to assume that both players would return in the first week of February, as long as they don’t suffer any setbacks.
David Adelman Shares Update on Jokic
Before the Denver Nuggets’ loss to the Atlanta Hawks last Friday, coach David Adelman shared a minor update on Nikola Jokic. Adelman told reporters that Jokic is making strides in his recovery, but there is an adjustment period for him due to being durable for the majority of his career.
“It’s day-to-day with the effort-level stuff. He lifts to see where he’s at. I think it’s more about what he feels like the next day, more than what it feels like while he’s doing something. That’s the barometer. It’s what you feel like after putting effort in, pushing his body a little bit. I know he’s antsy. He’s never been hurt. … The worst part is just sitting around. And that’s somebody who never misses games,” Adelman said, via Logan Struck of Sports Illustrated.
With Jokic’s return timeline being pushed back, he’ll likely be ineligible to win any awards this season despite putting up MVP numbers.