Nikola Jokic tested positive for COVID-19 but has since been asymptomatic. He will return to the U.S. in a week’s time.
Several reports have confirmed that Nikola Jokic tested positive for COVID-19. He was originally set to return back to the U.S. this week. Instead, Jokic will return and join his team after clearing himself of the virus.
Nikola Jokic’s COVID-19 exposure
Jokic was seen with tennis superstar Novak Djokovic in an exhibition game for charity. Unfortunately, neither of the two was wearing a mask. Nikola Jokic was seen in close contact with another Serbian basketball player who tested positive for COVID-19.
There has been no news directly from Jokic. However, fans can expect him to return back safely to the U.S. without any setbacks. Jokic has been the first player directly named who tested positive for the virus since the Rudy Gobert infection trail. However, Adrian Wojnarowski reports that four other players from a Playoffs team have also tested positive a few days ago.
Nuggets Nikola Jokic tested positive for #coronavirus last week in Serbia and he has yet to get back to Denver, per @wojespn.
Jokic met with #tennis super star Novak Djokovic, who announced today he and his wife have tested positive for Covid-19 #NBA pic.twitter.com/8gRT7fTVcW— Davide Chinellato (@dchinellato) June 23, 2020
Denver championship?
The Denver Nuggets is currently sitting on the third spot in the Western Conference. They have made themselves a formidable team in the crowded West. However, they still have to prove whether or not they truly belong there.
The challenge in the West gets harder and harder as the young Nuggets team mature. Unfortunately, the team had to face strong opponents in the past years which prevented them from going deeper into the Playoffs.
Jokic will be crucial for the Nuggets’ success. In other words, the team needs his services in order to go deep this year.
Decision deadline
NBA players have until Wednesday to make a decision whether they’ll play in the NBA restart or not. Trevor Ariza and Davis Bertans started the ball rolling, and fans can expect more players to join them. Ariza’s decision was purely for his time with his kid in a custody case.
Just recently, Lakers guard Avery Bradley said that he will not be suiting up for the team in the restart. He cites the health of his six-year-old son’s history of weak recovery from respiratory illnesses. Instead, he’ll be staying home with his family as he doesn’t expect them to be able to enter the bubble even during the Playoffs.
Kyrie Irving and the other players that have been vocal have to make their decisions soon. NBA teams are already rounding up their rosters and training camps for the July 30 restart.
Image courtesy of Denver Nuggets/ YouTube screenshot