Nuggets forward J.J. Hickson’s season will be delayed five games after he was suspended Wednesday for a violation of the NBA’s drug policy.

The suspension is for use of recreational drugs. If it was a suspension for use of performance-enhancing drugs, it would have been made public, under terms of the NBA’s drug policy.

Hickson’s suspension will begin on the first regular-season game and last through Nov. 7. He’ll miss games against Detroit, Oklahoma City, Sacramento (back-to-back) and Cleveland.

The Nuggets were made aware of the situation early Wednesday, but under the confidentiality clause of the NBA’s Anti-Drug policy cannot comment on it. Hickson could not be reached for comment. He is going through rehabilitation from a torn anterior cruciate ligament, sustained midway though last season. He played in 69 games and averaged 11.8 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.

Hickson is expected to be ready to go when training camp begins on Sept. 30, though neither he nor any of the other injured Nuggets from this past season — Danilo Gallinari (ACL), Nate Robinson (ACL), JaVale McGee (stress fracture) — are going to be pushed hard from the start of drills.

When the regular season starts, look for Darrell Arthur to slide up and assume the primary reserve power forward role. Arthur, who is the team’s best pick-and-pop power forward, is going into his final season on his contract.

Christopher Dempsey: cdempsey@denverpost.com or twitter.com/dempseyPost