Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokić will not be available for Friday night’s matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks as he continues his recovery from a knee injury suffered late last month. Here’s what happened to him and the latest updates on his injury.
Latest Injury Updates on Nikola Jokić Before Bucks Game
The latest Nuggets injury report marks Jokić as out due to a knee injury. The Serbian sensation hyperextended his knee during a game against the Miami Heat on Dec. 29, 2025.
Initial MRI results confirmed the injury as a knee hyperextension, and the Nuggets announced at the time that the three-time MVP would be re-evaluated in roughly four weeks.
Nuggets head coach David Adelman expressed cautious relief after reviewing the imaging results at the time.
“It’s an unfortunate situation,” Adelman said. “Silver lining, it’s not season-ending, but it was a very concerning moment for us.”
Further reporting from NBA insider Shams Charania revealed that Jokić is also dealing with a bone bruise in the same knee, which has contributed to the team’s conservative approach. While Jokić has returned to some on-court activities this month, his recovery has not followed a straight upward trajectory.
According to Adelman, via Nuggets reporter Vic Lombardi, Jokić’s progress has been “up and down,” making it clear the team is prioritizing long-term health over a rushed return. As a result, Jokić will remain out for the Nuggets’ game against Milwaukee on Friday, Jan. 23.
The absence will mark Jokić’s 14th missed game of the season. Denver has managed reasonably well without him, posting an 8-5 record during this stretch. After suffering back-to-back losses earlier this week, the Nuggets bounced back with a 107-97 win over the Washington Wizards on Thursday, Jan. 22.
Jokić’s Possible Return Timeline
Jokić’s absence looms large. Before the injury, the 30-year-old center was performing at an MVP level, averaging 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 11.0 assists across 32 games. At the time he went down, he was leading the league in both rebounds and assists, further strengthening his MVP case.
However, the extended time off has created another complication. If Jokić remains sidelined through the February All-Star break, he would fall short of the NBA’s 65-game minimum required for major awards eligibility.
That would officially remove him from MVP contention, despite finishing first or second in MVP voting in each of the past five seasons and finishing second to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander last year.
There is also growing uncertainty around Jokić’s participation in the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, as the Nuggets have emphasized he will not return until he is as close to 100% as possible.
Despite the injury concerns, the Nuggets remain in a strong position in the Western Conference. They sit third in the standings with a 30-15 record, but as the regular season progresses toward its final stretch, the need for their franchise cornerstone will only intensify.
For now, there is no firm timetable for Jokić’s return, and the Nuggets appear content to remain patient, trusting that having a fully healthy Jokić in the spring matters far more than any January result.
