Nikola Jokic's Road to Recovery Hits a Speed Bump.
A few days ago, it seemed like Nikola Jokic was on track to return sooner than expected after undergoing hyperextended left knee surgery. A statement from ESPN insider Shams Charania indicated that the Denver Nuggets' star had resumed on-court work and was progressing "right on schedule," even surpassing initial expectations.
However, Nuggets head coach David Adelman dropped a bombshell during his pre-game press conference on Tuesday night, hinting that Jokic's return may be further away than initially thought. When asked about the status of Jonas Valančiūnas, who will likely replace Jokic in the starting lineup upon his return, Adelman stated that it "looks that way now," but cautioned that tomorrow could be different.
When pressed for a more specific update on Jokic's rehab, Adelman described it as an "up-and-down process" with good days and bad days. He also likened Jokic's recovery to Cam Johnson's, who has yet to resume contact work, emphasizing that the Nuggets' timeline remains fluid.
In contrast, Valančiūnas is making steady progress in his recovery, with Adelman stating that he "feels really good." While this positive news helps alleviate some concerns about calf strains, it also underscores the need for caution when returning from injury.
The Nuggets are currently riding a 7-5 record, with key players Jamal Murray and Peyton Watson showing significant growth in their performances. However, without Jokic on the court, Denver seems to be winning games not just due to its talented roster but also because it has the luxury of patience.
Adelman's comments suggest that an early February return for Jokic now appears more realistic than initially expected. Given his impressive form before the injury, which included 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 11.0 assists per game on elite efficiency, a late-February or early-March comeback date seems like a reasonable possibility.
For now, Denver will continue to wait and let Jokic's body dictate his return schedule rather than rushing him back before he's truly ready.
A few days ago, it seemed like Nikola Jokic was on track to return sooner than expected after undergoing hyperextended left knee surgery. A statement from ESPN insider Shams Charania indicated that the Denver Nuggets' star had resumed on-court work and was progressing "right on schedule," even surpassing initial expectations.
However, Nuggets head coach David Adelman dropped a bombshell during his pre-game press conference on Tuesday night, hinting that Jokic's return may be further away than initially thought. When asked about the status of Jonas Valančiūnas, who will likely replace Jokic in the starting lineup upon his return, Adelman stated that it "looks that way now," but cautioned that tomorrow could be different.
When pressed for a more specific update on Jokic's rehab, Adelman described it as an "up-and-down process" with good days and bad days. He also likened Jokic's recovery to Cam Johnson's, who has yet to resume contact work, emphasizing that the Nuggets' timeline remains fluid.
In contrast, Valančiūnas is making steady progress in his recovery, with Adelman stating that he "feels really good." While this positive news helps alleviate some concerns about calf strains, it also underscores the need for caution when returning from injury.
The Nuggets are currently riding a 7-5 record, with key players Jamal Murray and Peyton Watson showing significant growth in their performances. However, without Jokic on the court, Denver seems to be winning games not just due to its talented roster but also because it has the luxury of patience.
Adelman's comments suggest that an early February return for Jokic now appears more realistic than initially expected. Given his impressive form before the injury, which included 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 11.0 assists per game on elite efficiency, a late-February or early-March comeback date seems like a reasonable possibility.
For now, Denver will continue to wait and let Jokic's body dictate his return schedule rather than rushing him back before he's truly ready.
. I mean, 29.6 points and 11.0 assists per game is crazy! 
He's like the engine of that team. If he doesn't come back soon, they might struggle to keep up their current pace 
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. To make up for lost time, they need their superstar back ASAP.
If Jokic returns in late Feb or early March, that's about 14-16 more games into the season. By then, teams will have had time to adjust and adapt to new lineups 
. The Nuggets are already showing signs of patience, which is good. They can't afford to rush him back.
. One thing's for sure, though: when Nikola Jokic returns, it'll be like a breath of fresh air 
i know nikola jokic is a superstar player but come on denver nuggets r doing great w/o him 
their 7-5 record is impressive! Jamal Murray and Peyton Watson are killing it out there 
adelman said its an "up-and-down process" with good days and bad days, sounds like a rollercoaster ride 
hopefully he comes back healthy soon tho 
THE COACH IS BEING SUPER CAUTIOUS AND SAYING THAT JOKIC'S TIMELINE IS FLUID WHICH MEANS IT COULD CHANGE ANYTIME!!! 
WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK WILL HAPPEN NEXT?!?! 
. I'm not surprised by the Nuggets' cautious approach, considering the complexity of knee injuries and the need for patience in the healing process. The fact that Jonas Valančiūnas is making steady progress while Jokic's rehab remains fluid suggests a more realistic timeline than initially expected.
. A late-February or early-March comeback date might be a bit conservative, but it's definitely more plausible than an early February return now.
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the nuggets are doing fine without him tho, but it's just not the same 
hopefully its gonna be in late feb or early march now 
. As a parent, it's hard to balance patience with wanting your kid to get back on the court (I'm talking about basketball, not actual sports!). And what really gets me is when they talk about "letting his body dictate" his return schedule... isn't that just code for "we don't know how long he'll be out"? 
. Coach Adelman just dropped some bad news - it looks like Jokic won't be returning anytime soon 
. The Nuggets are still riding high on their 7-5 record, but without Jokic, they're basically just coasting on talent 
...
the nuggets are gonna be stuck in neutral until jokic comes back, it's like they're waiting for the cavalry to ride into town 
...or in this case, the Nikola Jokic cavalry 
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...still hoping for a healthy return from Niko, though 
. I just want him to come back healthy and ready to rock, you know? 
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. Coach Adelman's "up-and-down process" comment is a major bummer 
, but on the other hand, it's like they're leaving everything in Jokic's hands 