Nikola Jokic’s return delayed due to positive COVID-19 test

According to a report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets has tested positive for COVID-19 in his native Serbia.

As the NBA continues to prepare for its late-July return, we’ve entered the testing stage. Teams around the league are conducting COVID-19 tests starting Tuesday as players are returning to their teams’ cities, so it should come as no surprise as positive tests are announced. Earlier in the day, the Phoenix Suns announced two positive tests and the temporary halt of their voluntary workouts. Later in the day, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski announced that Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets had also tested positive for the disease last week.

According to the report, Jokic tested positive in his native Serbia and he is asymptotic, but this positive test result has delayed his departure to the United States and return to Denver by at least a few days.

Jokic created a stir just a week or so ago when pictures came out of his new svelte physique. For some time he’s been known to not have the lowest body fat in the league, so his weight loss is a marked departure from what we’re used to.

Considering that Jokic has had no symptoms, there’s no specific reason to tie COVID and his weight loss together, but the timing is rather intriguing.

He was also seen with tennis star Novak Djokovic almost two weeks ago, and Djokovic himself recently tested positive for the disease as well.

Needless to say, as teams conduct widespread testing, it’s likely we’ll see plenty of positive tests attached to big-name stars over the next few days.