David Adelman calls Nikola Jokic injury “gut-wrenching”

Nikola Jokic went down in a heap Monday night, suffering a left knee injury against the Miami Heat.

Dec 29, 2025, 8:11 PM

Watch: |

Nikola Jokic went down in a heap Monday night, suffering a left knee injury against the Miami Heat. And everyone in Colorado’s worst thoughts went flashing, even Nuggets coach David Adelman, who called it “gut-wrenching.”

“All I know is that Jokic has a left knee injury, and he needs to go through the process of what it is… immediately, he knew something was wrong,” Adelman said. “This is part of the NBA. Anyone who gets hurt, it’s gut-wrenching. Especially somebody as special as he is. We’ll find out more tomorrow and move on as a team. I’m more concerned about him as a person and the disappointment of going through something like that. It’s unfortunate, and we’re hoping for the best. We have to stay with it to best support our teammates who are out and honor them when they play. It sucks, but hoping for the best.”

Nikola Jokic went down with an apparent leg injury vs. the Heat. pic.twitter.com/4kPf9HAOt8

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 30, 2025

Jokic isn’t just the Nuggets’ best player; he’s the best player in the world and the favorite to win a fourth MVP. He’s led the Nuggets to a 22-10 record this season which is among the best in the West. And they’ve done this despite being down Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon for weeks and Cameron Johnson now for some time too.

Those injuries were bad, but a severe Jokic injury would be devstating for now and the future of the Nuggets. Any time lost for Jokic damages the Nuggets hopes this year, but they’ll just hope to get him back at this point.

One doctor on social media said it was likely a left knee hyperextension, calling for concern to the ACL, but likely not that. While another doctor said a hyperextension and a possible bone bruise, but admitted it could be serious. Johnson is out at least a month with a bone bruise right now.

The Nuggets lost to the Heat.