The basketball world can collectively exhale. 

Three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić has been diagnosed with a hyperextended left knee and will be out at least four weeks, the team announced Tuesday morning, with the Nuggets breathing a sigh of relief that their star avoided a season-ending injury.

Jokic, 30, was injured during Denver’s 147-123 blowout loss to the Heat in Miami on Monday night.

He limped off the floor following the injury with just seconds to go before halftime Monday night. 

The Serbian superstar — who had already tallied 21 points, eight assists and five rebounds in just 19 minutes — fell to the hardwood after getting his shoe stepped on by teammate Spencer Jones, who was attempting to contest a drive by Miami forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. 

Clutching his knee, Jokic rolled around in agony before getting helped to his feet by Denver’s training staff. 

“Obviously, immediately he knew something was wrong… We’ll find out more tomorrow,” Nuggets head coach David Adelman said after the game. “It’s unfortunate. Hoping for the best.”

Initial speculation on the injury’s severity ranged from a bone bruise from the hyperextension to — in the worst case, yet very possible scenario — a torn ACL. 

Jokic entered Tuesday ranked fifth in the NBA in scoring this season at 29.6 points per game, plus leads the league with averages of 12.2 rebounds and 11 assists per contest.

The only other player in NBA history to average at least 12 rebounds and 11 assists over a full season was Oscar Robertson for the Cincinnati Royals in 1961-62.

“Obviously, it’s part of the game,” Nuggets guard Jamal Murray said after the Nuggets’ blowout loss on Monday night — speaking before the team got the word on the severity of Jokic’s injury. “But we never want to see it happen. … Next man up. We’ve got to focus on what’s in here.”

A twist of fate for one of the NBA’s most durable superstars, “The Joker” has played no fewer than 69 games in each of his last eight seasons.

And on the heels of an expert 2024-25 campaign, in which he became just the third player in NBA history to average a triple-double, Jokic also has thrived this season, too.

The 2023 Finals MVP was fresh off one of the greatest performances in Christmas Day history, erupting for 56 points, 16 rebounds and 15 assists in a thrilling overtime win against the Timberwolves.

Jokic’s extended absence marks a crushing blow to the Nuggets, who own a 22–10 record and the third seed in the highly competitive Western Conference. 

Denver is already rolling out a lineup short three starters, including Aaron Gordon (hamstring), Christian Braun (ankle) and Cam Johnson (knee). 

The Nuggets have dropped four of their last six games and got outscored, 84–60, by Miami after Jokic’s exit. 

— with AP