It’s been nearly a month since Nikola Jokić last took the floor for the Denver Nuggets - 29 days, to be exact - but for Nuggets fans, it’s felt more like an eternity. The reigning Finals MVP has been sidelined since December 29 after suffering a left knee hyperextension against the Miami Heat.
At the time, the team announced he’d be re-evaluated in four weeks. That milestone has come and gone, and now, according to reporting on Tuesday, Jokić is expected to be re-evaluated in another week.
The good news? He's trending in the right direction.
Jokić is officially in the “ramp-up phase” of his return-to-play process - a sign that his recovery is progressing as hoped. That means he’s likely back on the court doing individual work, gradually building up strength and conditioning.
For a player who does so much for his team - orchestrating the offense, anchoring the paint, and making everyone around him better - this is a welcome development.
But here’s the wrinkle: Jokić is now just three missed games away from becoming ineligible for end-of-season awards like MVP and All-NBA honors, due to the league’s 65-game minimum rule. Denver plays four games before next Tuesday, meaning even if he returns immediately after his re-evaluation, he won’t hit the threshold.
That’s a tough pill to swallow for fans who were hoping to see Jokić in the MVP conversation again. But the Nuggets aren’t sweating that - and frankly, they shouldn’t be. The organization is prioritizing the long game: Jokić’s health, and the team’s ability to compete deep into the postseason.
Make no mistake, this is a team with championship aspirations. They’ve been through the grind before, and they know what it takes.
Rushing Jokić back just to keep him in the awards race would be shortsighted. Denver’s front office, coaching staff, and medical team are all aligned on one thing: getting their superstar back to 100% matters more than any regular-season accolade.
And let’s be honest - Jokić isn’t the type to chase individual honors anyway. He came into this season with one goal: helping the Nuggets repeat as champions.
That mindset has been clear from the jump. He’s not about the spotlight.
He’s about the scoreboard.
Denver’s dealt with more than its fair share of injuries this season, and that’s tested the depth they built over the summer. Ironically, Jokić’s absence has highlighted just how resilient this roster is. The supporting cast has stepped up, and the team has managed to stay competitive - a testament to the front office’s offseason moves and the players’ next-man-up mentality.
Still, there’s no substitute for Jokić. His vision, his feel for the game, his ability to control tempo - those are irreplaceable.
If Denver is going to make another deep playoff run, they’ll need their big man healthy and locked in. And that’s exactly what they’re working toward.
So while the MVP race may move on without him this year, don’t count the Nuggets out. With Jokić on the mend and the team keeping its eyes on the bigger prize, the focus remains right where it should be: on getting back to the mountaintop.