The Nuggets coach is hoping that Jokic, alongside Cam Johnson and Christian Braun, will return before the All-Star break.
The Denver Nuggets are optimistic about Nikola Jokic's ongoing knee recovery.
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Head coach David Adelman revealed that he and the Nuggets are aiming for Jokic's comeback before the All-Star break. They are also applying a similar expectation to both Cam Johnson (right knee bone bruise) and Christian Braun (left ankle sprain).
"He’s progressing at a positive rate," Adelman said of Jokic on the Polumbus, Hastings and DMac radio show. "I would hope that he plays before the All-Star break. And I think the hope is, outside of Aaron [Gordon], who’s obviously going to be out for a while, those other guys — the goal is to see them all play before that break hits."
Jokic has been out since late December after sustaining a left knee bone bruise. He was given a four-week recovery period, but it was recently announced that the Nuggets are extending his healing timeline for another week.
Johnson was given four to six weeks after his knee injury, while Braun has continued his recovery after it was revealed that he returned way too early from his ankle issues.
Despite Jokic's absence, the Nuggets have excelled well behind the leadership of potential first-time All-Star Jamal Murray. Denver remains atop the West standings as a No. 3 seed with a 31-16 record.
"When they do come back, they’re going to be on restrictions. It’ll be a math problem that I have to figure out, but I’m hoping that they all at least get back on the court before that starts. And to his credit, like everything else, he’s been working really hard to get back," Adelman further added about the Serbian superstar.
"He wants to get back. He’s antsy with it. We just have to make sure that we get him through the conditioning part of it and that he’s right and ready to go when he joins us in a real game."
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