Following the Denver Nuggets’ heartbreaking Game 7 loss in the Western Conference Finals, forward Aaron Gordon didn’t hold back in his postgame comments. While reflecting on his team’s elimination, Gordon directed criticism at the NBA, citing the injuries to star players like Stephen Curry and Jayson Tatum as symptoms of what he believes is a deeper issue with the league’s current scheduling and player workload.
Gordon, who played a key role throughout Denver’s playoff run, voiced his frustration during the postgame press conference.
“You see guys like Steph, Jayson—big names, faces of the league—going down with injuries in the biggest moments,” Gordon said. “That’s not just bad luck. That’s a result of how the NBA has been handling the schedule. It’s too much. Back-to-backs, travel, no time to recover. It’s catching up to everybody.”
Stephen Curry missed critical time during the Warriors’ playoff push due to a lingering ankle injury, while Jayson Tatum suffered a hamstring strain in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals that severely limited his performance in Game 7. Gordon pointed to those absences as not only disappointing for the fans but as evidence of a system that’s pushing elite athletes to their limits.
“Fans want to see stars on the court in the biggest games,” he continued. “But how can they when the league is grinding them into the ground all season long?”
Gordon’s comments come at a time of growing concern among players and coaches about the toll of the 82-game season. While the NBA has taken steps in recent years—such as introducing the in-season tournament and reducing some back-to-back games—many, including Gordon, feel these changes haven’t gone far enough.
Nuggets head coach Michael Malone echoed some of Gordon’s sentiments, noting that injuries and fatigue played a major role in Denver’s grueling seven-game series.
“We’ve got guys playing through pain, pushing themselves beyond the limit,” Malone said. “That’s playoff basketball, sure, but there’s a cumulative toll from October to May.”
Gordon’s criticism is likely to spark further debate about the league’s structure and player health, especially as more top-tier players suffer injuries during the postseason. While the NBA has yet to respond to Gordon’s remarks, it’s clear the conversation about player welfare and scheduling isn’t going away anytime soon.
As the Nuggets head into the offseason with questions about their roster and recovery, Gordon’s comments add another layer to the ongoing dialogue about how the NBA can balance entertainment, competitiveness, and player longevity.
