Nikola Jokic Out vs. Thunder, How Many More Games Does Nuggets Star Need to Qualify for NBA Awards?
Denver Nuggets star center Nikola Jokić was ruled out of the team's matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night.
Jokić has played in 64 games this season and needs to suit up in one more contest to reach the NBA's 65-game requirement for award consideration.
The Nuggets have just one game remaining in the regular season after their clash with Oklahoma City.
Denver will face the San Antonio Spurs in its regular-season finale on Sunday night.
It isn't hard to imagine Jokić earning recognition for his 2025-26 campaign if he's able to reach the 65-game threshold, as the three-time MVP has put together another strong year.
He's recording 27.8 points on a nightly basis while his averages of 12.9 rebounds and 10.9 assists per game both lead the NBA. The 31-year-old is also shooting 56.9 percent from the field and 37.9 percent from three-point territory.
The Nuggets own a plus-10.4 net rating with Jokić on the floor during the 2025-26 season compared to a minus-3.6 net rating with him off (via NBA.com).
He previously explained why he wasn't a fan of the league's 65-game rule during the 2023-24 season.
"I just don't like it, how it forces players to play even if they're injured, if they want to achieve something," Jokić said at the time, per Bennet Durando of the Denver Post.
The Nuggets are still battling for playoff positioning in the Western Conference standings, currently holding the No. 3 seed with a 52-28 record. They're just one game ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets, though.
