If you tuned in to watch the Denver Nuggets take on the Oklahoma City Thunder, one player who gave it all on the court was Aaron Gordon. He shook off a Grade 2 hamstring injury to appear on the court, which impressed Nikola Jokić, coaches, and other players.
It became risky considering the forward could aggravate his injury and miss a chunk of the next season. But Gordon, being the warrior he is, wanted to be on the floor for his team, facing elimination.
Witnessing him leaving his heart on the floor, Jokić acknowledged Gordon for fighting for his teammates despite being warned not to play in Game 7.
Nikola Jokić Gives His Flowers to Aaron Gordon After Gutsy Battle
Gordon excelled this season, improving his three-point shooting and scoring crucial game winners. His defense, including contested shots and deflections, enabled the team to get going.
Therefore, Jokić recognized Gordon’s importance and stated, “Yes, yes. I mean, definitely, playing with their injury. I mean, I told him not to play. You can even injure yourself, or worse. You can see that he was struggling a little bit, hard to move, and this and that.”
Throughout the game, he limped and struggled to go from offense to defense or vice versa. Yet, he scored 8 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, a team-high, and contested as much as possible in the game.
It’s a monumental effort by Gordon, and Jokić recognised his worth. He concluded, “But he’s a lion. He went out there and fought with us, and we can just appreciate that.”
“I told him to not play… [but] he went out there and fought with us and we can just appreciate it.” 🗣️
Jokić shares gratitude for Aaron Gordon fighting through injury today. pic.twitter.com/UBWDipNCzs
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 18, 2025
He can now rest and nurse his hamstring injury, and also pointed out the NBA’s scheduling issues. Gordon called for the NBA to make modifications because the playoffs come right after the regular season ends.
Gordon stated, “I would really, really appreciate it if there were a couple of days in between games and the playoffs instead of every other day, regardless of whether you go seven games. I understand if you do your work early, and you get 1st seed, and then you can have some time off.”
Playing 82 games, and an extra 2 months for the playoffs if you go deep. That’s rough. Sometimes, everyone forgets that athletes are humans and takes time to recover from their physical struggles on the court.
MORE: 2025 NBA Mock Draft Following Shocking Lottery Results
Better recovery results in high-class basketball performances, with most players fit and available to play. This approach helps fans tune in and watch their favorites on the court, enhancing the NBA’s ratings.
Therefore, Gordon’s point remains something the league can look forward to implementing. Gordon would love a rest and recover from the injury to return strong next season.
