Kevin Durant and Jokic’s Injury: “It Happens. Just Bad Luck”
Kevin Durant sees a story he’s already lived through in Nikola Jokic: a knee injury caused by a freak, accidental contact and the risk of being labeled unfairly
There are injuries that are part of the game and others that have nothing to do with preparation, workload management, or physical fragility. Kevin Durant knows this well, and that’s why he’s looked at Nikola Jokic’s knee injury with particular empathy, a situation that immediately ignited the spotlight and widespread concern.
Durant has experienced a similar path firsthand: two consecutive seasons slowed by knee injuries born from completely accidental contact. Over time, those moments helped build an uncomfortable narrative around him – the label of a player “prone to injuries.”.
What I wouldn’t want to see with Nikola is people starting to label him as injury prone. These are situations you can’t control. You can do everything right, but if someone falls on your knee, there’s not much you can do
Kevin Durant
The Miami Incident and the Nuggets’ Diagnosis
Jokic’s injury, suffered Monday night in Miami, came during a defensive play when teammate Spencer Jones stepped on the Serbian center’s left foot while trying to contain a Jaime Jaquez Jr. drive. The impact caused his knee to hyperextend, and Jokic collapsed to the floor clutching his leg.
The Denver Nuggets announced that Jokic will be reevaluated in four weeks, a timeframe that allows for cautious optimism, especially when compared to other potential ligament injuries.
Durant, Brooklyn, and His Own Injury History
The comparison also stems from Durant’s past. In January 2022, Durant suffered a medial collateral ligament (MCL) sprain when Bruce Brown fell backward into his left knee, costing him 21 games.
A year later, ironically on the same Miami floor, a similar play with Jimmy Butler led to another knee issue – this time on his right side. After that injury, Durant never returned to the court with the Brooklyn Nets; he was traded to Phoenix, eventually returning only in March after 20 games missed.
A Different Context, Same Mechanism
In Jokic’s case, the nature of the injury appears less structural. Durant himself noted that a hyperextension could allow for a quicker return compared to a true MCL tear.
It’s good that they’re talking about four weeks. It doesn’t seem like anything serious. It wasn’t a major sprain, more like a twist. He’ll be back soon, and that’s big news for the league
Kevin Durant
Beyond Labels: Jokic and the Balance Between Caution and Narrative
The central point remains this: not all injuries signify fragility. Jokic, like Durant before him, now faces a narrative crossroads as much as a medical one. How his return is managed will be crucial – and it’s equally important to avoid hasty conclusions.
As Durant reminded, the best players need to be on the floor, but a casual contact shouldn’t become a stigma that’s hard to shake.