Toronto, ON — The Denver Nuggets will be without reigning MVP Nikola Jokic for a minimum of four weeks after the center sustained a knee injury, head coach David Adelman confirmed on Tuesday.
“It’s a relief that it won’t end his season, but the moment it happened was scary,” Adelman told reporters before the game against the Raptors. He described Jokic as “one of the toughest players I’ve ever been around.”
Jokic traveled to Toronto for the contest, yet the organization has not decided whether he will remain with the team for the balance of its road trip. According to Adelman, that choice will be made jointly by the two-time MVP, the coaching staff, executive vice president of player personnel Jon Wallace, and executive vice president of basketball operations Ben Tenzer.
Holmes Highlights G League Stint
Rookie forward DaRon Holmes II said his time with the club’s G League affiliate has been an audition for the Nuggets’ coaching staff. “Training camp can be hard for younger guys to stand out because of injuries or age,” Holmes told HoopsHype. “The G League lets us show what we can do and how it might translate with the Nuggets.” He added that he studies Jokic’s passing and off-ball movement to expand his own game.
Backup Center Rotation in Flux
With Jokic sidelined, Jonas Valanciunas shifts into the starting lineup. Adelman said Denver will experiment behind him. “We’ll get creative,” the coach noted, pointing to small-ball units that could feature Spencer Jones or Peyton Watson, along with more traditional options in Zeke Nnaji and Holmes.
Adelman emphasized that any lineup decisions will focus on maximizing All-Star guard Jamal Murray. Watson could anchor “super small” groups flanked by shooters to keep the floor spaced for Murray’s pick-and-rolls.
Gordon at the Five? Maybe Not
Aaron Gordon has logged minutes at center in past seasons, but recurring hamstring and calf issues complicate that plan. Limited to just 13 appearances this year, Gordon is viewed as too important for a prolonged postseason run to risk heavy minutes in the frontcourt’s most physical spot.
Denver enters January holding its breath on Jokic’s recovery while preparing a mix-and-match approach to cover the paint until he returns.
Source: HoopsRumors
