Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic has made a significant step in his recovery from a hyperextended left knee injury. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the superstar big man has started on-court workouts for Denver, putting him on track to make his return sooner than initially anticipated.
Jokic was diagnosed with a hyperextension of the left knee after suffering an apparent setback before Christmas, prompting concerns that he might be at risk of suffering his first major injury since entering the NBA. However, recent updates suggest that the league should not be surprised if Jokic returns to action earlier than expected.
The Nuggets had initially planned to evaluate Jokic around four weeks after their December 29 matchup against Miami Heat, with early February seeming like a reasonable target date for his return. With Charania stating that Jokic is "right on schedule" and potentially ahead of schedule, the team appears optimistic about getting him back in action by late January.
While there's no need to rush Jokic back onto the court, it's clear that Denver benefits greatly from having their star player on the floor. In his absence, the Nuggets have continued to hold their own, with a 5-3 record since Jokic went out and a current streak of two wins heading into their upcoming matchup against the Dallas Mavericks.
The Denver Nuggets currently sit at 27-13 this season, tied for second place in the standings with the San Antonio Spurs, albeit 6.5 games behind leaders Oklahoma City Thunder. Before his injury, Jokic was averaging an impressive 29.6 points on 60% shooting, alongside 11 assists and 12 rebounds per game.
With Jokic making rapid progress in his recovery, fans are increasingly optimistic about the prospect of him returning to action sooner rather than later.
Jokic was diagnosed with a hyperextension of the left knee after suffering an apparent setback before Christmas, prompting concerns that he might be at risk of suffering his first major injury since entering the NBA. However, recent updates suggest that the league should not be surprised if Jokic returns to action earlier than expected.
The Nuggets had initially planned to evaluate Jokic around four weeks after their December 29 matchup against Miami Heat, with early February seeming like a reasonable target date for his return. With Charania stating that Jokic is "right on schedule" and potentially ahead of schedule, the team appears optimistic about getting him back in action by late January.
While there's no need to rush Jokic back onto the court, it's clear that Denver benefits greatly from having their star player on the floor. In his absence, the Nuggets have continued to hold their own, with a 5-3 record since Jokic went out and a current streak of two wins heading into their upcoming matchup against the Dallas Mavericks.
The Denver Nuggets currently sit at 27-13 this season, tied for second place in the standings with the San Antonio Spurs, albeit 6.5 games behind leaders Oklahoma City Thunder. Before his injury, Jokic was averaging an impressive 29.6 points on 60% shooting, alongside 11 assists and 12 rebounds per game.
With Jokic making rapid progress in his recovery, fans are increasingly optimistic about the prospect of him returning to action sooner rather than later.
. Meanwhile, I just read that Nikola Jokic is making amazing progress with his knee injury and might be back on the court sooner than we thought 
. Like, who needs a four-week evaluation period when you've got game-day performances to worry about? 
. Seriously though, it's great news for the Nuggets and their fans, but can't we just skip straight to the good stuff – like Jokic's expected return date? 
And btw, has anyone else noticed how slow this forum is?! I swear, it takes me longer to type one comment than it would to watch a highlight reel of Jokic's plays 
.
! I mean, we all know how big a difference he makes on the court, so it's great news for Denver Nuggets fans 
. The team's been holdin' their own without him, but it's definitely not the same, you feel? 
Jokic was puttin' up crazy stats before his injury too, 29.6 points and 11 assists per game... talk about a scoring machine 
! Late January is lookin' like a realistic target date for his return now, which would be huge for the team's chances of makin' a deep playoff run 
.
I mean, we all know how quickly those "recovery" timelines go out the window... meanwhile, the rest of us just have to deal with our teams trying to win without their stars 
.
OMG, this is amazing news! Nikola Jokic's return can't come soon enough for Denver Nuggets fans... I mean, who doesn't love watching him dominate on court? 
! With him back in action, their chances of making a deep playoff run just went up significantly 
The Nuggets have been holding it down while Jokic was out, but now we can expect even more magic from him 
and I'm loving how the Nuggets have held it down while he was out 
It's great to see Nikola Jokic on track to make a return to the court! He's a huge part of what makes Denver Nuggets exciting to watch - their team plays way better with him leading the charge 
. 29.6 points per game is crazy, and having him back will definitely boost their chances in the standings 
. The fans must be going wild thinking about his comeback 
!
. I'm loving this positive development! 
... fingers crossed he comes back healthy, but no rush, right? 