Nikola Jokic is set to miss four weeks with a left knee hyperextension, and Kevin Durant admitted feeling relief when the update arrived. Many in the NBA had feared a much longer absence for the Denver
Nuggets center after the injury against the Miami Heat.
Durant, now with the Houston Rockets, stressed how important it is for the league that Jokic returns promptly. Durant described Jokic as a central figure for the sport and welcomed medical reports that ruled out more serious ligament damage.
Jokic has been producing MVP-level numbers again this season, averaging 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds and 11 assists while shooting 60.5% from the field. Those figures underline why the Nuggets will feel the impact of this Nikola Jokic injury, and why Kevin Durant and others are relieved about the limited timetable.
| Player | Injury | Expected absence | 2025-26 averages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nikola Jokic | Left knee hyperextension | Four weeks | 29.6 PTS, 12.2 REB, 11 AST, 60.5% FG |
| Jonas Valanciunas | Calf strain | Undisclosed | First start for Denver this season |
The injury came when Jokic collided with a team-mate during a defensive sequence against Miami. The contact forced Jokic out and raised questions about the rest of the season. On the same night, backup center Jonas Valanciunas suffered a calf strain in his first start, adding further pressure to Denver’s frontcourt depth.
Injury Update: Nikola Joki suffered a Left Knee Hyperextension injury during last night's game at the Miami Heat. Nikola will be re-evaluated in four weeks. pic.twitter.com/NIDmlKAN81Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 30, 2025
Durant compared this Nikola Jokic injury with his own past knee problems and the way public opinion can shift. After the Rockets defeated the Brooklyn Nets, Durant recalled how labels followed those setbacks. "One thing I don't want to see with Nikola is like, they started calling me 'injury prone' after that, but hopefully they don't start with him because it's one of those freak injuries that you can't really control," said Durant after the Rockets beat the Brooklyn Nets.
Durant also reflected on the random nature of such contact plays, and again backed Jokic’s swift return. "You can do all the work you can, but somebody falls into your knee, that's just tough. So it's good to see it's only four weeks and it's not anything too big. It wasn't an MCL sprain or Level 2, it felt like it was just a tweak and he's going to be back out there soon. He's great for the game and you want to see the best players on the floor at all times. " For Denver and the wider league, this Nikola Jokic injury appears serious but manageable, and Kevin Durant’s comments mirror the relief across many locker rooms.
