Nikola Jokic has built his MVP resume on availability as much as dominance—but now, an untimely knee injury and the NBA’s 65-game rule threaten to derail his bid for a historic fourth MVP, with his head coach admitting the usually unflappable star is growing restless.

Jokic avoided the worst when he suffered a hyperextension of his left knee at the end of 2025. He’s expected to be out till the end of January at least. He’s hardly missed games, which gives him the extended break. Yet Adelman revealed tonight, “He’s antsy, he’s never been hurt.”

It’s not the injury as much as all the effort to average a triple double 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, 11.0 assists and leading the league in rebounds and assists, would be wasted if he doesn’t play 65 games. His timeline is cutting it close with the NBA’s mandatory attendance for awards eligibility.

David Adelman addressed that very rule while giving an update on Jokic ahead of hosting the Atlanta Hawks.  “I understand the 65 game rule, but a guy that never misses games for a decade, it bothers me a little bit. This is not somebody sitting out. He never sits out. He’s anxious to get back.”

His fourth MVP candidacy is very much alive. Nikola Jokic is still leading the votes above Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic. But getting the award also depends on his attendance.

According to Adelman, Jokic is putting in effort to rehab his injury and working out. He lifts every day to gauge his progress.

The anxiety is also about the inability to help a Nuggets team that has gone 3–2 in his absence while being shorthanded. Jamal Murray is pushing himself to carry the team, and Peyton Watson is on a breakout season.

Obviously, he’s not entirely there yet, and it’s adding to his anxiety. Something we never thought we’d see the Joker experiencing.

Why Nicola Jokic’s Historic Triple-Double Season is in jeopardy

He was putting up MVP-calibre numbers when disaster struck. Jokic had 21 points, eight assists and five rebounds in 19 minutes in the first half against the Miami Heat when he had a run-in with a teammate.

It resulted in the hyperextension of his knee, officially classified as a non-contact injury.

He didn’t tear a ligament, won’t need surgery, and it’s not a season-ender. But he’s the frontrunner to make NBA history with a fourth MVP title. In recent games, Luka Doncic is surging ahead to upset the odds, while SGA could easily reclaim the title.

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Nikola Jokic can’t miss more than 17 games this season to win MVP. The rigidity of the player participation policy and his physical limitations are adding to his anxiety.

A four-week timeline could mean missing between 14 to 16 games. Having already missed a handful of contests earlier in the season, Jokic would have no margin to miss another game. If he comes back early, he’d need to be limited by a minute restriction.

If his return pushes into February, he will be disqualified from the MVP race regardless of his historic production.

Even Victor Wembanyama had a scare with a hyperextended knee right after Jokic. The DPOY frontrunner, however, can’t miss more than five games this season, which made him subtly call out the same rule.

Injuries have always been a concern for elite players like The Joker. The star center is not accustomed to missing games or experiencing difficulties during workouts. With the 65-game rule, a standard rehabilitation is now a race against the clock.

The league wants to keep its players in the game. However, when a player who doesn’t take nights off suffers a freak accident, this rule begins to appear like a penalty for bad luck.