Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic has been playing at an MVP level for yet another season. You wouldn’t even be able to guess that, for years, the Serbian giant has been dealing with the same wrist injury.
On Friday, Jokic took the court against the Minnesota Timberwolves with his right wrist taped. When he started the game 1-5, missing bunnies, and turning down shot attempts, it wasn’t hard to see why.
After getting his wrist re-taped, the six-time All-Star finished the game with 32 points, shooting 11-24 from the field and 0-3 from 3. He also had just five assists to four turnovers. It’s the first time this season that he took at least 20 shots, missed all of his 3-point attempts, and had an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.25 or lower in the same game.
Nikola Jokic Addresses Nagging Wrist Injury
As one might expect —with Jokic playing below his lofty standards and the Nuggets missing star guard Jamal Murray —Denver lost to the Timberwolves.
Their 13-point loss wasn’t the worst they’ve had against Minnesota this season. On Nov. 1, the Timberwolves undressed the Nuggets. Winning by 21 points, they held Denver’s Big Three to a combined 18-50 from the field.
However, the Nuggets are now down 1-2 to Minnesota in the season series, losing the tiebreaker against them. As a result, the Timberwolves currently have the top seed in the West.
They tie OKC in div wins. Can pass with another win vs. Denver. They lead next TB, conference record, by FOUR in the loss column.
EFFECTIVELY, Wolves clinch tiebreak over both teams with this win. https://t.co/XzgKXHnxHK
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) March 30, 2024
Following the game, Nuggets head coach Michael Malone said he was surprised that Jokic played tonight due to his wrist soreness, per Harrison Wind of DNVR Sports. The big man has missed several games over the past two seasons to heal it instead. He’s believed to have sustained the original injury against the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 2 of the 2020 Western Conference Semifinals.
Speaking about the injury himself after the game, Jokic says “Hopefully it’s going to be a little bit better, just so I don’t feel it every time when I shoot. But it’s good.”
Nikola Jokic on his wrist: “Hopefully it’s going to be a little bit better, just so I don’t feel it every time when I shoot. But it’s good. I’m used to it, dealing with the pain. It’s kind of normal for me.” pic.twitter.com/J03QoDX5KB
— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) March 30, 2024
“I’m used to it,” Jokic says, “dealing with the pain. It’s kind of normal for me.”
Jokic has been available for all but three games this season. He’s played at least 70 games in all but one season. With availability clearly important to the big man, he’s unlikely to miss any more time than he has to.
However, Jokic’s health will be worth monitoring throughout the rest of the season. It should go without saying but the Nuggets are unlikely to repeat as NBA champions if there’s a problem with the key cog in their system.
