Aaron Gordon issued strong recommendation to Adam Silver and the NBA regarding the tight Playoff scheduling.
In the aftermath of the Denver Nuggets’ brutal season-ending Game 7 loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder, superstar Aaron Gordon called for longer breaks among participating teams in the postseason.
Gordon, who bravely played in the series finale against OKC despite a hamstring injury, believes that substantial rest will promote greater health and a more competitive playoff basketball display for everyone.
“I think the days in between games, not just an off day and a 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,” Gordon argued.
“There’d be a better product on the floor, just giving all these professional athletes one more day of rest. You would probably see a higher level of basketball and less blowouts.”
Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver PostRon Harper dismisses Aaron Gordon’s playoff scheduling recommendation
Considering how injury-stricken this NBA Playoffs has been for the entire league, Gordon’s comments stirred tons of reaction across the basketball world.
Already this postseason, Damian Lillard and Jayson Tatum suffered torn Achilles injuries, which will likely keep them out until the 2026-27 season.
The Golden State Warriors’ chances to continue advancing took a huge hit when Stephen Curry sustained a hamstring issue that led to their five-game, second-round exit against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
While many expressed agreement with Gordon’s words, it has not been a totally unified response.
Posting on X, the former NBA star and Chicago Bulls champion Ron Harper dismissed the Nuggets star’s proposal regarding playoff scheduling.
Harper wrote: “How about playing harder… in the 80s 90s and 70s it wasn’t blow outs like now with less days off.”
How about playing harder… in the 80s 90s and 70s it wasn’t blow outs like now with less days off.
— Ron Harper (@HARPER04_5) May 19, 2025
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Longer rest must be given to those who deserve it this postseason
Gordon was reflecting personally on what he and the Nuggets had to go through in this postseason.
Coming off a tiring, seven-game battle in the opening round against the LA Clippers while witnessing other injury casualties from Michael Porter Jr. (shoulder), Jamal Murray (illness), and Russell Westbrook (hand), Denver truly had a difficult path that hindered their chances of winning it all again.
But it is worth pointing out that if they had won their series 4-0 like the Thunder did, they would have benefitted from a longer break too.
For instance, the Indiana Pacers are healthy and all geared up heading to the East Finals after dragging the Milwaukee Bucks and the Cleveland Cavaliers via separate gentleman’s sweeps. The same applies to the Timberwolves, who beat both the LA Lakers and the Warriors in the process.
After going up 2-1, Gordon might be healthy right now if he and the Nuggets had managed to beat the Thunder in winnable Games 4 and 5 to clinch the series and reach the West Finals over OKC.