The Denver Nuggets are currently praying for their superstar after leaving halftime against the Miami Heat on Monday.
Star center Nikola Jokic suffered a left knee injury when by awkwardly hyperextended it.
The three-time MVP immediately crumpled to the ground in pain, grabbing onto his left knee as Spencer Jones was knocked backwards and ended up colliding with Jokic.
“Immediately, he knew something was wrong,” Nuggets coach David Adelman told reporters after the game, an eventual 147-123 Heat victory. “This is part of the NBA. Anyone who gets hurt, it’s gut-wrenching, especially somebody as special as he is.”
Jokic was able to get up on his own, but with an obvious pain in the area where he had not previously encountered an injury.
He had 21 points and eight assists in 19 minutes at the time of injury, until backup center Jonas Valanciunas replaced him to start the second half.
The 30-year-old superstar just recorded one of the all-time most remarkable performances in NBA Christmas Day history a few days before, and is currently averaging 29.9 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 11.1 assists per game.
