Aaron Gordon Suffers Another Hamstring Setback as Nuggets’ Depth Gets Tested
The Denver Nuggets walked into Milwaukee last Friday already down six rotation players. By the time the final buzzer sounded, that number had climbed to seven - and this one stings.
Aaron Gordon, the lone regular starter available, exited late in the first half after reaching for his right hamstring. The concern was immediate, and unfortunately, it was justified: another hamstring strain.
This is a tough blow for Gordon, who had just returned earlier this month from a previous hamstring issue. After Thursday’s win over the Wizards, he mentioned feeling better than he had in a while - a promising update that now feels like a cruel twist. Less than 24 hours later, he was back on the injury report.
Gordon was ruled out for what would have been Sunday’s game in Memphis, which ended up being postponed. Next up for Denver is a Tuesday matchup at Ball Arena against the East’s top-seeded Pistons.
While the Nuggets haven’t put a timeline on Gordon’s recovery, assistant coach David Adelman shared that Gordon was “optimistic” this strain isn’t as severe as the last one. Still, it’s hard to imagine him suiting up that quickly.
And even when he does return, there’s going to be that lingering concern - will it happen again?
Let’s not overthink this: Aaron Gordon is essential to Denver’s title hopes. That was true before last year’s playoff run, and it’s even more obvious now.
He’s the guy who threw down the game-winning dunk against the Clippers and buried a clutch three against the Thunder. He’s the guy who strained his left hamstring in Game 6 against OKC and still gutted it out in Game 7, dragging his leg through 8 points and 11 rebounds in a loss.
He wasn’t himself, but he gave everything he had.
That kind of toughness is part of what makes Gordon so valuable - but so is his defense, his rebounding, his hustle, and his ability to stretch the floor. Denver’s retooled roster has talent, sure, but you can’t just plug someone in and expect to replicate what Gordon brings. There’s no one-for-one replacement for his impact.
The good news? The playoffs are still more than two months away.
There’s time. But this latest setback means Denver has to play the long game.
The goal isn’t just to get Gordon back - it’s to get him back healthy and keep him that way.
And that’s where the concern really lies. Gordon’s history with soft-tissue injuries is starting to pile up, and that gives Denver every reason to be cautious. They can’t afford to rush him back and risk losing him again when it matters most.
The Nuggets have championship aspirations, and Gordon is a big part of that equation. If they want to be at full strength when the lights are brightest, they’ll need to manage this carefully - because if Gordon’s not right come playoff time, Denver’s path to a repeat just got a whole lot harder.