Nuggets wounded star voices valid plea for NBA to change schedule

Denver Nuggets ironman Aaron Gordon has a problem with the NBA’s playoff scheduling.

The Nuggets’ season ended on Sunday with a 126-104 Game 7 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals, a game that showcased Gordon’s remarkable toughness.

Despite suffering a Grade 2 hamstring strain in Game 6, an injury ESPN’s Shams Charania reported would typically require a month to heal, Gordon started and played 32 minutes, contributing 12 points, 11 rebounds, and three assists. 

Gordon’s decision to gut through the pain added fuel to his growing reputation as a basketball warrior. On the other hand, Denver’s blowout loss amplified Gordon’s frustration with the grueling every-other-day playoff schedule.

During the postgame press conference, Gordon expressed his discontent about the way the NBA schedules the playoffs, stating, “I would really, really appreciate it if there were a couple of days in between games in the playoffs instead of every other day. The product of the game would be a lot better. You’ll see a higher level of basketball. Probably less blowouts.” 

Gordon’s comments immediately went viral on social media, with most people identifying Gordon’s take as symbolic of a broader sentiment among NBA players. 

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Gordon argued that the relentless pace—eight games in 16 days for Denver, for example—fatigues teams, diminishes performance, and contributes to lopsided outcomes like the Thunder’s 22-point rout, which was fueled by Alex Caruso’s defensive tenacity and OKC’s 51.1 percent shooting.

Gordon’s injury, sustained late in Game 6 on Thursday, left him visibly hobbled, yet he continued to crash the boards with reckless abandon. Gordon’s heroics followed a playoff run where he averaged a career-best 16.8 points, including a buzzer-beating dunk against the LA Clippers and a game-winning three in Game 1 against OKC. 

However, the Nuggets’ thin rotation, with only six or seven players seeing significant minutes, exacerbated the toll of the schedule, as interim coach David Adelman relied heavily on starters playing 35-plus minutes.

With teammates Jamal Murray (illness) and Michael Porter Jr. (shoulder sprain) also banged up recently, Denver’s elimination supported Gordon’s point: more rest could elevate competition and reduce blowouts.

With serious injuries on the rise in the NBA, Gordon’s call for change may resonate, urging the NBA to reconsider its playoff cadence to prioritize player health and game quality.

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