NBA superstar Kevin Durant sent his sympathy to Nikola Jokic this week. The Denver Nuggets center is unfortunately out with a hyperextended left knee. Durant, you know, he called it a “freak” injury. This big news broke from ESPN reports just a couple of days ago. It’s a pretty tough break for the Nuggets. And for everyone who follows fantasy basketball, it’s a huge shake-up.
Jokic Out for Four Weeks, MVP Hopes in Question
Nikola Jokic, he’s been like, the best center in the league for ages. First or second in MVP voting for five straight years. Now he’s sidelined for a whole month. ESPN confirmed he’d be out four weeks on December 31, 2025. This hyperextended left knee, it’s a nasty injury. Nobody wants that. It’s the kind of thing that can really mess up a season. He even dropped out of the top spot in fantasy basketball points league rankings. That just shows you how much of an impact he has.
The Nuggets, they’ve already had to play without their main man. On December 31, they went up against the Raptors and won 106-103. Peyton Watson really stepped up in that game, didn’t he? He put up 24 points. So, they can win without Jokic. But it’s not easy. They also lost a close one to the Cleveland Cavaliers recently, 113-108, even with Jamal Murray scoring 34 points.
The team was pretty short-handed in that one too. And get this, it’s not just Jokic. Apparently, another Nuggets big man, Jonas Valanciunas, is also out for at least four weeks with a calf injury. That’s a serious blow to their frontcourt depth. It really means other guys need to step up big time now.
Durant Relates to the “Freak” Injury
Kevin Durant knows all about bad luck injuries. An ESPN headline from January 1, 2026, actually said Durant is “all-too familiar” with Jokic’s specific knee injury type. He called it a “freak” thing, which is what you say when something just happens out of nowhere. Durant has dealt with a lot of injuries himself, so he gets it. These athletes, they push their bodies to the absolute limit. Sometimes, your body just gives out, you know?
We don’t have Durant’s full statement yet. But his sympathy speaks volumes. It highlights the shared struggle these guys go through. This whole thing also brings up bigger conversations. People are always talking about how many games a superstar can miss. And still be considered for major awards like the MVP. Jokic has been in the running every single year. Missing four weeks, that’s a decent chunk of games. It could definitely impact his MVP eligibility this season. It’s just a real bummer for a player of his caliber. He’s such a consistent force.
Nuggets Face Tough Road Ahead, League Watches
So, the Nuggets have a big test on their hands. They need players to step up, like Watson did against the Raptors. Jamal Murray will certainly have to take on more of the scoring and playmaking load. They’re going to have to find ways to win ugly. This team is pretty talented, yeah. But you just can’t truly replace a two-time MVP. Not really. They need to stay competitive. Especially as the playoffs get closer.
Meanwhile, the rest of the league keeps chugging along. An ESPN “NBA Intel” piece, it’s covering all sorts of other big storylines for 2026. Things like the Thunder’s dominance this season. And all those LeBron James trade rumors. There’s even talk about NBA expansion. The league moves on, even when its biggest stars get hurt. But everybody still feels for a player like Jokic. He’s such a unique talent in the game.
The Nuggets just have to tough it out for the next month. They’ll be hoping Jokic comes back healthy and strong. And maybe, just maybe, he can still make a run for those big individual awards. It’s going to be a real challenge for them. But you know, they gotta fight for it.
Soureesh Datta 
Tanya Singh 
Ishaan Singh