Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon is expected to miss at least a month due to a strain in his right hamstring, the team confirmed on Thursday. He will be reexamined in four to six weeks, with a possible return in March, just before the Nuggets’ home schedule resumes. Gordon sustained the injury last Friday during a narrow 102-100 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, exiting the game after only 16 minutes in the first half.
This season is rapidly turning into a disappointment for Gordon, who aggravated the same hamstring injury that caused him to miss over a month earlier this year. The 30-year-old initially injured the muscle on November 21 during an NBA Cup game and didn’t come back until January 4.
When healthy, Gordon has been a key contributor to the Nuggets’ 31-16 record, averaging a career-high 17.7 points per game and maintaining a solid 40% shooting from beyond the arc for the second straight year. However, Denver has struggled with multiple injuries, including a knee issue for three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, and Gordon has only played 23 games this season.
Ahead of their Thursday matchup against the Brooklyn Nets, the Nuggets are managing several injured players: Gordon (right hamstring strain), Jokic (left knee bone bruise), Tamar Bates (left foot surgery), Christian Braun (left ankle sprain), Jameron Johnson (right knee bone bruise), Jamal Murray (right hamstring and left hip inflammation), and Jonas Valanciunas (right calf strain). It’s expected that Murray and Valanciunas will suit up Thursday, while the others remain sidelined.
Despite missing Jokic, Denver has gone 9-5 and aims to maintain their strong position in the Western Conference playoff race. The Nuggets currently hold third place in the West, trailing the fourth-seeded Houston Rockets by two games and the top-ranked Oklahoma City Thunder by 6.5 games.
With key players like Jokic anticipated to return soon—he suffered a hyperextended knee on December 30 and will be reevaluated in early February—the team could regain full strength for the season’s final games and playoff run. While the Nuggets could explore trades before the February 5 deadline, their injury-related lack of depth might encourage them to hold their current roster. According to Spotrac, Denver is approximately $400,000 over the luxury tax limit and might reduce payroll if they make any moves.
Fan Take: Aaron Gordon’s injury highlights the vulnerability even top-tier players face and underscores the importance of depth in a championship-contending team. For basketball fans, it’s a reminder that the thrill of the sport often hinges not just on star power but on resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity.
