Denver Gazette beat writer Vinny Benedetto takes you around the NBA and inside the Nuggets locker room:
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OKLAHOMA CITY – There were plenty of moments Aaron Gordon could’ve been most proud of after the Nuggets’ season ended Sunday at Paycom Center.
Gordon provided a couple of game-winners in the playoffs, some stingy defense on All-Stars Kawhi Leonard and Jalen Williams in the postseason, proved that his career-best season as a 3-point shooter wasn’t a regular-season anomaly and played in the biggest game of Denver’s season despite a significant hamstring injury. Denver’s starting power forward also battled two calf strains in the regular season but went a different direction when asked what made him most proud this year after the Nuggets’ season ended with a 125-93 loss to the Thunder on Sunday in Oklahoma City.
“Being able to compete for the first time without my brother by my side,” Gordon said. “I knew he was with me. I know he’s staying with me. I think just even coming out there and just competing is something in its own right.”
Gordon’s older brother, Drew, died in a car crash soon after Denver’s title defense ended last season. The Nuggets’ glue guy changed his jersey number from 50 to 32 to honor his late brother and did his new digits proud, scoring more efficiently than he ever had in his 10-year professional career.
It looked like Gordon’s season ended late in Thursday’s Game 6 when he extended his left leg in an attempt to retrieve a loose ball. He was designated as questionable despite a report it was a Grade 2 strain that typically takes a month or two to fully recover. The Nuggets didn’t have that luxury.
“Aaron Gordon is incredible. What he played with today, I don’t know many people that would even attempt to go out there and run up and down,” Nuggets interim coach David Adelman said. “He did it in Game 7, against Oklahoma City on the road. That was one of the most incredible things I’ve ever seen.”
Not only was Gordon available, but he was active. He flirted with a first-half double-double and finished with eight points and 11 rebounds in 24 minutes and 30 seconds of playing time, despite being “extremely close” to not playing, according to his coach.
“He gave us more than I think we all could ask for,” Nuggets guard Jamal Murray said, mentioning played through a Grade 1 calf strain last postseason. “He played through a Grade 2 hamstring. The hamstring is no joke. … It was a lot for him to handle, and he did a great job. Shout out to AG for just battling and being present today.”
After Denver’s season ended, Gordon admitted sprinting was not an option Sunday. He leaned into what he called his “old-man game.” The 29-year-old forward finished a three-point play that gave the Nuggets an early 21-10 lead, hit a 3-pointer and grabbed four offensive rebounds.
“There was never any doubt in my mind that I wasn’t going to play today. The only thing that made me doubt playing was the MRI. The MRI told me something worse than what I was feeling,” Gordon said.
“Injuries are a part of the game. I knew the risks, but I wanted to be out there for my team.”
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What I’m Thinking
The Kroenkes are in an intriguing spot heading into a critical offseason.
Interim coach David Adelman has acquitted himself well during his short stint calling the shots, but the Nuggets still need a lead executive. Ben Tenzer has served as interim general manager since Calvin Booth was fired on the same day as Michael Malone. Tenzer’s impact hasn’t been as easily noticed, though he has certainly been around the team more frequently than he was in the past. A report from The Athletic indicated both Adelman and Tenzer are candidates to land the full-time promotions, but that seems like a big gamble heading into a massive offseason for the Nuggets future.
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A more experienced executive seems like the safer play, as the Nuggets need to decide whether the roster needs a massive overhaul or just some changes on the margins. The limits are options. Denver doesn’t have a draft pick at the moment, and the trade values of guys like Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr. and Zeke Nnaji might require some extra assets to land an impactful addition.
The ownership family may very well have to decide what’s more important, retaining the coach their players have vocally supported or hiring the executive they believe is best suited to make the most of what’s left of Nikola Jokic’s prime.
Denver Nuggets run out of gas early in Game 7, see season end in Oklahoma City
What They’re Saying
It’s yet to be determined whether Sunday’s game will be Adelman’s last coaching the Nuggets. His players were vocal proponents of him getting the full-time gig, but that decision is above their pay grade. Regardless what happens in the coming weeks, the 44-year-old embraced the uniqueness of his first NBA postseason as a head coach.
“You only get one of these. This is the one moment we had together to make this run. They’re all individual to themselves,” Adelman said. “They’re all so special. Anybody that’s played sports understands that. Walking out of that locker room, it’s crushing, and it’s going to take a while to get over that.”
Nuggets season ends with 125-93 loss to Thunder in Game 7 | 3 takeaways
Gordon was asked what the Nuggets need to do to get back to the top. He pointed to an unfriendly playoff schedule, while acknowledging the top-seeded Thunder deserved a rest advantage after sweeping Memphis in the first round, while the Clippers took Denver to seven games.
“Health is a lot. I would really, really appreciate it if there were a couple of days between games in the playoffs instead of every other day,” Gordon said. “The product of the game would be a lot better.”
Nikola Jokic shared his immediate offseason plans after Denver was eliminated.
“The next couple of days is going to be a lot of beer,” Jokic said.
What I’m Following
– If there’s one person who should understand taking the shot when it’s presented, it should be Russell Westbrook.
That wasn’t the case Sunday when the Denver Gazette approached the veteran guard in the post-game locker room in hopes of getting an answer whether Westbrook had made a decision regarding his player option for next season. Westbrook, who’s rarely been available in the post-game locker room in his first season with the Nuggets, cleverly deflected. The Nuggets aren’t doing exit end-of-season exit interviews. Westbrook has until June 29 to make his decision.
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– Christian Braun and Peyton Watson are eligible for extensions on their rookie contracts on July 1, a few days after Westbrook’s deadline. ESPN’s Bobby Marks believes Braun’s extension could be worth more than $30 million annually.
– Nikola Jokic becomes eligible for his contract extension on July 8.