The NBA championship picture may have been altered in the first half of the Denver Nuggets’ recent game against the Miami Heat. Nuggets franchise player Nikola Jokić made unintentional contact with teammate Spencer Jones before collapsing while grabbing his knee.
Initial concerns throughout the league were that Jokić had suffered a season-ending injury. Although that doesn’t appear to be the case, a top NBA insider revealed one of the most brutal ramifications of Jokić missing extended time.
Injury May Cost Nikola Jokić His Remarkable Streak
NBA insider Tim Bontemps mentioned another significant consequence of Jokić ‘s injury: his eligibility for end-of-regular-season awards. Bontemps said, “One of many ripple effects of this Jokić injury is that he all but certainly won’t be eligible for awards voting, meaning the end of a run of five years finishing first or second in MVP voting.”
The three-time NBA MVP was making another challenge for his fourth award this season, averaging 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 11 assists per game. Jokić is having arguably his best season yet, shooting 60.4% from the field and a career high 44 percent from three. His 71.4% true shooting percentage is also a career high.
Jokić is amongst the NBA leaders in offensive rating, win shares, and Player Efficiency Rating, while leading the Nuggets to a 22-10 record.
Bam Adebayo says he respects guarding Nikola Jokić because he doesn’t foul-bait
(h/t @HeatCulture13 )
pic.twitter.com/gA3T1sQgrl— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 30, 2025
With Jokić reportedly expected to miss a minimum of four weeks due to a hyperextended left knee, it appears that he will be ineligible to receive any individual regular-season awards for his great play.
The NBA added the 65-game rule at the start of the 2023-24 season as part of the new collective bargaining agreement. The league essentially became frustrated with the load management trend, believing that teams were not using star players who were actually healthy enough to play.
Some of the notable casualties of the new rule include Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid, who was ineligible to qualify for MVP or an All-NBA team in 2024 due to his meniscus tear, and San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, who would have made an All-NBA team last season, but was ruled out this past February after developing a blood clot on his right shoulder.
With Jokić out of action, high-scoring guard Jamal Murray, who is closing in on his first All-Star Game selection, will become the focal point of the Nuggets’ offense. Veteran big man Jonas Valanciunas will have an expanded role as well.
