Story byNikola Jokic’s injury changes everything: West playoff chase, MVP race, moreKurt HelinWed, December 31, 2025 at 8:14 AM UTC·4 min readIt sounds strange to say, but it is true: Nikola Jokic missing a month is great news for Denver. Not great that he's out, but great in the sense that the hypertension of his left knee that will sideline Jokic for at least the next month is the best possible outcome from what looked like a far worse injury when it happened. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWhile it may “only” be a month (although don't be shocked if he is out through the All-Star break), Jokic's absence is going to change things with the Nuggets, the Western Conference playoff chase, and the MVP race (it changes everything for people betting on NBA awards futures). Let's break it all down, starting with the team itself. How Nuggets change without JokicBefore Monday night, the Nuggets were already dealing with a rash of injuries. Three starters were out: Aaron Gordon (hamstring strain), Christian Braun (ankle sprain) and Cam Johnson (a knee hyperextension, just like Jokic). Despite the bad luck, the Nuggets could always rely on Jokic, one of the league's most durable players — he had played fewer than 70 games in a season only once in his career (69 in 2022-23).
