The Denver Nuggets have one of the most underrated players in the league in Aaron Gordon, and that isn't an understatement. His game has evolved significantly over the past year, as he has developed into a genuine shooting threat. See the 2025 playoffs for examples of that. As good as AG is, there is one valid concern about how things will play out next season.
Gordon played 51 games last season, his least since the Magic traded him to the Nuggets in 2021. He started the season on a hot note, but that's when the first injury happened — a calf strain. AG missed 10 games with the injury before returning, and he then missed nearly 10 more games (nine) with the same injury later that month.
It took Gordon a few weeks to return to his usual form, but he then dealt with an ankle sprain and missed additional time due to his nagging calf injury. Unfortunately, he ended the season with another injury, as he strained his hamstring in Game 6 of the semifinals. He played in Game 7, although he wasn't near his best. If it weren't the playoffs, he would've missed several weeks.
Injury luck wasn't on Gordon's side. You can't blame him for that. It's what comes with being a professional athlete during an 82-game regular season. Soft-tissue injuries are no joke. He's healthy and ready for next season, but after the injuries he had last season, it's hard not to be a little wary.
An Aaron Gordon injury would be tough blow to Nuggets' title hopes
The last thing we want to do is speak this into existence. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray are the Nuggets' two stars, but Gordon is the player who holds the team together. You can't fill the void that he leaves behind when he's sidelined.
At least Denver is better-equipped than it was in the past couple of seasons to deal with injuries, as the front office addressed the team's dire need for depth. Not getting enough rest led to AG's calf injury turning into a recurring problem, and his explosive play style didn't help. There shouldn't be as much pressure for the Nuggets' top players, Gordon included, to return from injuries as quickly as possible.
Let's hope that AG won't deal with more pesky injuries next season. Winning a title requires as much luck as skill (if not more). Maybe luck will fall in the Nuggets' favor.