Nikola Jovic: Why might the NBA’s 65-game rule prevent him from being named MVP?
Nikola Jokic, a three-time MVP winner, has been an excellent player for the Denver Nuggets this season, currently leading the NBA in rebounds and assists and averaging 30 points per game.
On December 25, 2025, during a match against the Minnesota Timberwolves, he became the first player in NBA history to score at least 55 points, 15 rebounds and 15 assists in a triple-double, surpassing the record set by Steph Curry.
He also scored 21 points and dished out eight assists before he suffered a knee injury in the Nuggets’ 147-123 loss to the Miami Heat – an injury that now casts doubt on his chances of becoming MVP for a fourth season.
Initial results from medical scans show Jovic is expected to miss at least four weeks of play, working out to around 16 games – which would put his eligibility for the MVP award and All-NBA teams on the sidelines, as players can only miss 17 games to be included.
However, there is a chance that when his knee is re-examined, the extent of the injury will be worse than originally diagnosed. If that is the case, Jović may not pass the threshold of games played for the selection and miss out on the honors.
2026-01-06 11:05:00
