Aaron Gordon’s slow start has put the Nuggets in an awkward spot, but Denver isn’t anywhere close to making a move on him yet.
Gordon finally addressed the biggest question hanging over his opening stretch on Tuesday, saying he feels fine physically even as his production has dipped hard from where it was a year ago.
Aaron Gordon: “Physically, I feel good. So I’m less worried about my body out there and now more worried about the wins.
… I did a lot of recovery (this offseason) and a lot of lifting, a lot of running, so I can be there come May and June. But we need to pick it up now.”
- Bennett Durando (@BennettDurando) November 10, 2026
That answer matters because the concern around Gordon hasn’t just been about numbers. It’s been about whether he’s healthy, whether he’s holding back, and whether the Nuggets are seeing a version of him that’s going to stick.
Right now, the answer is still unclear. Denver is 5-4, and all four of its losses have come against teams ranked eighth or higher in the West. That’s enough to raise eyebrows, not enough to force a drastic move this early in the season.
The production drop is real. Gordon is averaging 11.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.0 steals in 29.3 minutes per game, while shooting 39.5% from the field and 27.8% from three. That’s a steep fall from the first nine games of the 2025-26 season, when he put up 19.8 points on 53.7% shooting from the field and 46.7% from deep.
The season has already featured a few warning signs. Gordon opened with 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting in the loss to the Thunder, then averaged just 9.8 points over the next five games. He’s coming off his worst outing of the year, a three-point night on 1-of-6 shooting in 30 minutes against the Rockets.
What stands out most is how different he looks. Gordon hasn’t been playing with the burst and force that have long defined his game in Denver, and that’s made his struggles impossible to ignore. The Nuggets’ dependence on him only sharpens the focus, especially with scoring already thin around him.
Still, this is November, not April. It’s not even 10 games into the season, and there’s no reason to treat this as the final version of Gordon. Denver also isn’t in a position to start shopping him now after choosing to run it back over the offseason and not putting him in trade discussions.
So for now, Gordon gets the benefit of the doubt. If this level holds, the conversation will change. But right now, the Nuggets are not going to give up on him this quickly.
In Other News...
Nuggets Already Face An Early Concern Beyond Their 5-4 Start
The early-season bumps have not been limited to the standings for Denver, which has already had to navigate a 5-4 start along with the kind of logistical headache that can throw off a road trip. After the team dealt with travel difficulties in Mexico City, assistant coach David Adelman reached out to the Nuggets core players as the group prepared to head into Houston, a reminder that the grind of an NBA season can test more than just execution on the floor.
What followed showed how much the Nuggets were trying to balance caution with competitiveness, even before the game tipped. The team ultimately decided to play in Houston, but the situation underscored an early concern for Denver: staying physically and mentally sharp enough to handle the demands of a season that is already asking plenty from a roster still trying to settle in. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Showed Something Important In Memphis That Fans Needed To See
The Nuggets left Memphis with a win that felt bigger than a routine road result, because it came with the kind of poise and shot-making they have been searching for. Denver controlled the game for long stretches and held off a Grizzlies push in the third quarter, then leaned on Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic to steady things when the pressure tightened.
Murray kept the offense moving even while dealing with foul trouble, and Jokic once again filled every part of the box score as the Nuggets closed out a 123-118 victory. For a team trying to show it can still impose its will away from home, this was the sort of response that matters, even if the larger question is whether they can keep bringing that edge game after game. [Read more 🡒]
Jokics Slump Is Raising A Bigger Nuggets Concern
Nikola Jokic has still been doing plenty of the little things that help Denver win, especially on the defensive end, where his activity has stood out this season. The Nuggets have benefited from his presence in a stronger team defensive setup, and his willingness to get involved more often on that side of the floor has been one of the quieter positives in an otherwise uneven stretch.
The bigger concern is what has happened when the ball is in his hands at the other end. Jokics shooting has dipped from his usual standard, and Denvers offense has not looked as sharp with him on the floor as it has in past seasons. Whether it is a conditioning issue or something physical lingering in the background, the Nuggets are left watching a version of their centerpiece that is still impacting games, just not in the same dominant way they are used to seeing. [Read more 🡒]