Nuggets' Jokic Shines After Knee Injury, Leads Team to Playoffs

Three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic returns from injury to power Denver's 54-win season.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 5:46pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the fluid movements and skills of a basketball player, rendered in a palette of navy, green, and orange, conceptually representing the dynamic play of Nuggets center Nikola Jokic.Nuggets star Nikola Jokic's historic triple-double season has the team poised for a deep playoff run.Denver Today

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, the three-time NBA MVP, has led his team to the playoffs after a season in which he returned from a scary knee injury to average a triple-double and guide the Nuggets to a 54-win season and the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.

Why it matters

Jokic's remarkable comeback and historic statistical season have been a major storyline for the Nuggets, who are looking to make a deep playoff run after several early postseason exits in recent years. The team's success has reinvigorated the Denver fanbase and raised expectations for the franchise.

The details

After missing several weeks earlier in the season due to a knee injury, Jokic returned to the lineup and put together one of the best individual campaigns in NBA history. The 28-year-old Serbian averaged a triple-double, posting 25.1 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 10.5 assists per game, becoming just the second player ever to achieve that statistical feat.

  • Jokic missed several weeks earlier in the 2025-26 season due to a knee injury.
  • The Nuggets finished the regular season with a 54-28 record, securing the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

The players

Nikola Jokic

The three-time NBA MVP and starting center for the Denver Nuggets.

Denver Nuggets

The NBA franchise based in Denver, Colorado that Jokic plays for.

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What they’re saying

“Nikola's return from injury and the season he's had is truly remarkable. He's carried us to the playoffs and we're excited to see what he can do in the postseason.”

— Michael Malone, Head Coach, Denver Nuggets

What’s next

The Nuggets will face the winner of the play-in tournament in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

The takeaway

Jokic's historic season and the Nuggets' success have reinvigorated the franchise and its fanbase, setting the stage for a potentially deep playoff run led by one of the NBA's all-time great players.