The Thunder stun the Nuggets in Game 7 of their playoff series, as they proceed to the Western Conference Finals after blowing out the 2023 NBA champions with a score of 93-125 at home. One of the key concerns for the Nuggets going into this game was Aaron Gordon’s health. He played 24 minutes in the game, had 8 points and 11 rebounds, despite a Grade 2 hamstring injury he sustained in Game 6 of the series.
After the game ended, the media spoke to Gordon about his health status. While addressing those issues, Gordon also attributed his health problems to the NBA’s stacked schedule for the NBA Playoffs.
He said, “Health is a lot, you know. I would really, really appreciate it if there were a couple of days in between games in the playoffs instead of every other day. Regardless if you go seven games. I understand if you do your work early, then you’re first seed and you can have some time off. I think the days between games, not just the off-day and the travel day, but a travel day and a recovery day, just two days I think. The product of the game would be a lot better. Just give these professional athletes one more day of rest, you’ll see a higher level of basketball. Probably less blowouts.”
He further cited Stephen Curry, Jayson Tatum, and Damian Lillard as examples of how the product of basketball has suffered due to NBA’s stacked schedule. He said, “You saw it around the league like Steph with the hamstring, JT, big respect to Jayson Tatum man I hope he gets better quick. There’s guys like Dame. There’s guys all around the league that are just like suffering fatigue-based injuries because the games are so closely stacked together.”
Curry missed the entire Warriors series against the Timberwolves after injuring his hamstring in Game 1. Tatum was sidelined with an Achilles injury near the end of Game 4 of the Celtics’ series with the Knicks that ended his season. Lillard suffered a torn Achilles tendon in Game 4 of the Bucks’ series with the Pacers, which leaves him sidelined for most of next season.
Gordon went on to elaborate on his concerns and explained how the healthiest team won championships often over the better teams as well. Thus showing how important player health is to the game of basketball and requesting the league to consider the plight of the athletes.
The Thunder now proceed to the conference finals while Nikola Jokic and the team make vacation plans. The Playoffs did not feel the same without Curry, Tatum, or Lillard, as genuine championship hopes were crushed due to their injuries for all three of their teams. Similarly, even Gordon’s injury cost the Nuggets Game 7, arguably after Gordon came up clutch with at least two game-winners for them in the Playoffs.
