Nikola Jokic's knee injury deprives Raptors fans of watching skilled big man live in action

It’s no joke when the high-end hoopster known as the Joker isn’t able to appear in a visiting arena.

And it has nothing to do with load management, a recent NBA trend that robs fans who have doled out big bucks for the chance to see an elite player in their lone appearance.

For years, Anthony Davis wasn’t able to suit up when the highly skilled big was scheduled to appear in Toronto. Just once did AD and LeBron James appear on the same court in Toronto as members of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Fans pay handsomely to be part of these elusive events and when injury strikes or when the schedule virtually precludes a star from appearing in the back end of a back-to-back set, there’s no fall-back plan.

In the end, fans are forced to grin and bear it, knowing there will be no refunds and knowing they are, at the end of the day, at the whim of players.

The case of Denver’s superstar centre Nikola Jokic is much different and it’s why his scheduled appearance Wednesday night at Scotiabank Arena will leave fans disappointed.

At least there’s Kitchener’s Jamal Murray to follow, whose game is tailor-made to play alongside the Joker. Then again, any player who can shoot the ball, handle it and whose IQ is high can play with Jokic.

Breathless Moment

When the Joker was forced to leave Monday’s game in Miami just prior to halftime, the Nuggets franchise gasped while the entire NBA held its breath. As soon as Jokic grabbed his left knee, many feared the worst.

Of all the injuries that can befall an NBA player, anything to do with the knee is the most serious.

Immediately, an ACL tear was suspected, which would have sidelined the three-time MVP for the balance of the season and more.

As it turned out, Jokic suffered a hyper-extension and is expected to miss at least four weeks.

When this NBA season began, emerging stars in Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum already were ruled out for the year after each tore their Achilles in the playoffs.

The cruelest blow came to Haliburton, the face of the Pacers franchise that pushed OKC to the very limit in the NBA Finals. Haliburton tore the Achilles in the decisive Game 7 with Indy leading the Thunder.

Tatum and running mate Jaylen Brown were the central figures in Boston’s championship in 2024, helping deliver the C’s their 18th title.

Stars abound in the NBA, which does not hold back in promoting the elite of the elite. The league’s faces continue to be aging stars in Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and James.

Big 3 Americans

The likes of reigning MVP and NBA finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander unequivocally is a top-three player, but he does not carry the cache of the aforementioned Big 3 Americans.

Jokic, Luka Doncic, SGA and Giannis Antetokounmpo hands down are basketball’s best.

Doncic was off to his native Slovenia to watch the birth of his child when James and the Lakers rolled into town, a night that will be remembered as the game when King James ended his streak of scoring in double digits, a night also remembered for his pass that led to L.A.’s buzzer-beater.

The Greek Freak has twice appeared in Toronto this season, the first coinciding with the Raptors’ home opener on the same night the Blue Jays and Dodgers played Game 1 in the World Series. He was dominant in leading the Bucks to an easy win.

When Milwaukee made its second appearance, they were playing the back end of a back-to-back. Antetokounmpo didn’t play a single minute in the fourth quarter.

Occasions are rare, which is why not being able to see the Joker in action is unfortunate.

Fortunately, it does sound like he’ll be back to an NBA floor down the road.

He won’t play Wednesday as the Raptors try to go 3-0 during their five-game homestand. The first two games were epic in their right, the first that saw Jamal Shead take an offensive foul late in regulation when Curry attempted a rip through.

The second came one night later when the Raptors stormed back from a 21-point deficit against the Orlando Magic, another win produced on a late-game defensive play.

Scottie Barnes had a Joker-like triple-double in Toronto’s OT win over the Warriors, while Shead’s career-high scoring performance led a rejuvenated bench that clearly picked up the team’s bedraggled starting unit.

Toronto Tormentor

One is never sure if Joel Embiid, a former league MVP and noted Toronto tormentor, will be available when the Sixers come to any town.

By now, the appeal of watching Kawhi Leonard live has worn out. But any appearance — and that’s assuming he’s even available — does stir memories of the Raptors’ 2019 title run.

Anthony Edwards is exciting, but he’s not in the same category of a Joker, Greek Freak or Luka.

Sentimentality and nationalism makes any visit by SGA a must-see, but his game is so nuanced that peripheral fans won’t appreciate the pace he plays.

The Joker is almost SGA-like in that he’s not a high flyer and is far from being a self-promoter.

He is, though, the best player on the planet. Truth to be told: He has been the best for years.

Sadly, Toronto fans won’t be able to see the Joker in person, at least not this season.

When the new year rings in, the Raptors and Sixers will play two games on consecutive nights in Toronto — providing fans a chance to boo Embiid.

The Clippers will soon follow, a chance to potentially see Leonard.

A true and legitimate event evening doesn’t come along often, which is why Joker’s knee setback hurts on multiple fronts.

On Feb. 24, SGA and the reigning champion Thunder roll into town, followed by Victor Wembanyama’s lone appearance the next night when San Antonio hooks up with the Raptors.

On March 8, first-overall pick Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks make their first and only visit to Toronto. Such moments must be relished because they don’t happen regularly.

Jokic isn’t a highlight reel, but he’s among the most skilled big men basketball has ever seen — some argue he is the most skilled big.

Without him, the Nuggets are likely to lose to the Raptors on Wednesday night.

Keep in mind the biggest losers are really the fans of the game.

fzicarelli@postmedia.com