The Denver Nuggets dropped their 12th straight game without Nikola Jokic on Tuesday night, falling to the Los Angeles Lakers, 115-107, at Ball Arena. Despite holding a halftime lead, Denver couldn’t close the deal, as the Lakers surged in the second half to steal the win. The loss moved the Nuggets to 29-15 on the season, including a 12-8 mark at home.
Let’s be clear: Denver has held its own without Jokic in the lineup. A 7-5 record in his absence speaks to the depth and resilience of this group.
But there’s no mistaking how different this team looks when their MVP is off the floor. Jokic isn’t just the engine of the Nuggets’ offense-he’s the blueprint.
His absence changes everything, from tempo to shot selection to how opposing defenses scheme.
LeBron James, who’s seen just about everything in his 21 seasons, made a point to recognize Jokic’s greatness during a timeout interaction. After the game, he shared his thoughts in a video posted to social media:
“It's all about respect. For the greats of the game, for the greats of today, for the greats of the past, for the greats who come after,” James said.
“Jokic is one of the greatest players to ever play this game.
You know, for me to see him earlier and send my respect, that's easy.”
Coming from LeBron, that’s not just lip service. That’s one all-time great tipping his cap to another-and Jokic has earned every bit of it.
The 30-year-old’s journey from a second-round pick (41st overall) to a three-time MVP is the kind of story that reshapes how we evaluate talent. He’s a unicorn in every sense of the word-an elite passer, a scoring threat from all three levels, and the conductor of one of the league’s most fluid offenses. There’s a reason Denver’s entire system is built around him.
Even in his absence, Jokic’s influence is felt. The Nuggets continue to run much of the same offense, but without his decision-making and gravity, the margins shrink.
Those easy backdoor cuts? A little less open.
The shooters in the corner? A little less space.
The rhythm and flow that define Denver’s game? A little more forced.
The good news for Denver fans: Jokic is trending in the right direction. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, he’s resumed on-court workouts and remains on track with his four-week recovery timeline. He hasn’t played since December 29, but all signs point to a return that could come sooner rather than later.
"Jokic is one of the 𝑮𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑻𝑬𝑺𝑻 players to ever play this game." 🔥🃏
— DNVR Nuggets (@DNVR_Nuggets) January 21, 2026
🎙️ LeBron pic.twitter.com/M9pItsLv9Z
Until then, the Nuggets will continue to grind. They’ve shown they can stay afloat without their superstar, but make no mistake-this team’s ceiling rises dramatically when No. 15 is back in the mix.
And when he does return, expect the league to take notice. Because as LeBron reminded us, Nikola Jokic isn’t just one of the best players in the game today-he’s one of the best to ever do it.