NBA Ecstasy! Thank you, Jokic! Return Date Revealed

Insider Shams:Jokic could potentially return by the end of this month. On December 31, 2025, during the Nuggets' away game against the Heat, Jokic suffered an overextension of his left knee.

The 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend is scheduled to take place from February 14 to 16 in Beijing time at the Los Angeles Clippers' new home, Intuit Dome. As mentioned, Jokic is very likely to return before the All-Star break, which is great news for both the Nuggets and the league.

So far, during the four games Jokic has missed, the Nuggets have gone 2-2. This season, the team holds a 24-12 record, ranking fourth in the Western Conference, trailing the Lakers at 23-11, the Spurs at 25-11, and the Thunder at 30-7.

Why is the league also excited? Because if Jokic can play in the All-Star game as planned, it will definitely boost viewership, given that he is one of the most popular players around.

The results of the NBA All-Star fan voting second round have been released,with Luka Doncic (2,229,811) leading the West, closely followed by Jokic (1,998,560), Stephen Curry in third, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander fourth, Victor Wembanyama fifth, Anthony Edwards sixth, Avdija seventh, LeBron James eighth, Kevin Durant ninth, Alperen Şengün tenth, and so on; in the East, Giannis Antetokounmpo (2,092,284), Jalen Brunson, and Tyrese Maxey hold the top three spots.

Jokic ranks second in popularity in the West and third overall in the league. The NBA All-Star game definitely needs him, and it’s likely that Commissioner Adam Silver is even more concerned about his recovery than the Nuggets’ management.

Jokic has been selected to the All-Star team for seven consecutive years. If not hindered by injury this year, he is sure to be chosen again and still has a chance to compete for his fourth MVP award (which requires playing at least 65 games).This season, he has played 32 games, averaging an impressive 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, 11 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, with a shooting percentage of 60.5%, and knocking down 2.1 three-pointers per game at a 43.5% clip.

In terms of pure skill, calling Jokic the best basketball player of this era is no exaggeration. Not only does he boast phenomenal triple-double averages, but his offensive efficiency is off the charts... and his leadership remains top-tier.

By the way, Jokic is only 30 years old, and he still has many prime years ahead of him.