By Matija Šerić
When Nikola Jokić suffered a serious knee injury on December 29, it initially seemed like it could be fatal not only for him but for the entire Denver Nuggets franchise this season. However, those fears proved unfounded, as the Joker recovered after a month off and has been showing top-level basketball over the past two weeks. He is back at the All-Star Weekend, rightfully so.
The Unfortunate Injury
Injuries are the most dangerous event that can strike basketball superstars and their teams. Two days before New Year’s Eve, in the Nuggets’ 147–123 loss to the Miami Heat, Jokić injured his left leg when young teammate Spencer Jones accidentally stepped on his foot. Of course, the 25-year-old small forward had no intention of injuring the team leader. Such injuries happen due to the high intensity of play and the enormous number of games in a season.
After initial fears of a possible ligament injury that could have threatened his entire season, Jokić was later diagnosed with a left knee strain (hyperextension) and was expected to miss about four weeks. That proved accurate. However, returning to the court is one thing, and being back in form and producing the high-level performances Jokić is known for is another.
Dream Comeback Against the Clippers
After 16 games off, in his first match back on January 30 against the Los Angeles Clippers at the home Ball Arena, he thrilled the crowd. He scored 31 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and dished out 5 assists in a 122–109 win. He also set another record — becoming the first player in NBA history to record 30+ points, 10+ rebounds, and 5+ assists while playing under 25 minutes. To be precise, he played 24 minutes and 32 seconds and only lost one possession. He continued his excellent performances over the next six games. Although the Nuggets have a 3–4 record since Jokić’s return, he is by no means to blame.
Best in Defeats
On February 1, the Nuggets lost to the Western Conference leaders, the Oklahoma City Thunder, 111–121, with Jokić recording 16 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, and 6 turnovers. This was followed by a loss to the Eastern Conference leaders, the Detroit Pistons, 121–124, with the Joker posting 24 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, and 5 turnovers. At Madison Square Garden on February 4, the Knicks beat Denver 134–127 in overtime, and Big Honey achieved his 181st triple-double with 30 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists without a single turnover, becoming the second player in NBA history in total triple-doubles.
Joker’s Individual Consistency Brings Nuggets Wins
Two days later, in an away win against the Chicago Bulls, Jokić recorded another triple-double with 22 points, 14 rebounds, and 17 assists, with three turnovers. In a narrow 117–119 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, he again had a triple-double with 22 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists, plus seven turnovers. He had a tough three-pointer for the win with nine-tenths of a second left but missed. On February 11, Denver beat the Memphis Grizzlies 122–116 at home, with the Joker contributing 26 points, 15 rebounds, and 11 assists with nine turnovers.
At the time of writing (All-Star Weekend), Nikola Jokić’s statistics for the current season are impressive. In 39 games played (starting all), he averages 34.3 minutes, 28.7 points, 10.7 assists, 12.3 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 0.8 blocks, and 3.7 turnovers per game. He leads the league in assists and rebounds and ranks 7th in points. With a 59% field goal percentage, he is ninth in the league. These numbers demonstrate a rare or unprecedented basketball skill. Jokić’s contribution to the Nuggets cannot be overstated.
The Turnover Issue
However, there is a certain problem after the injury — an increased number of turnovers. His season average is 3.7 turnovers per game, but looking only at the seven games after the injury, the average rises to 4.42. Worryingly, in the last two games against the Cavaliers and Grizzlies, he lost a total of 16 balls, giving an average of 8 — over 100% higher than his season stats. Clearly, those two teams are tough for him due to their high pace, aggressive defense, quick rotations, and energetic passing lane closures.
After the home game against Memphis, Nuggets coach David Adelman tried to explain what was happening with his best player:
“They attacked him when he turned his back. Also, he is still coming back from injury and working on conditioning. I ran him the whole first quarter just to do something different with him. Sometimes you’re trying to win a game and help a player because we’re not practicing — that’s one way to get him in shape. That said, he had a lot of turnovers, but he scored 26 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, 11 assists, made some huge plays at the end, and hit free throws when it mattered most.”
Rest and Training — The Formula for Top Performance
There is no doubt Adelman is correct, and the Serbian international still needs some time to fully recover and reach a form that allows him to control possessions more consistently. It’s also worth noting that very few players in the league handle the ball as much as Jokić, whom many call a point-center — a rare combination of playmaker and center. Both he and teammate Jamal Murray will benefit from a one-week break for the All-Star Weekend as Denver looks to improve its record in the remainder of the season.
Currently, the Nuggets sit 3rd in the Western Conference at 35–20, aiming for the best possible seed to secure home-court advantage in the playoffs. If the Joker continues to dominate, the Nuggets could finish 2nd or 3rd in the West — an excellent springboard for the postseason.
