The Denver Nuggets' 118-110 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers wasn't a good game for many players. And at the bottom of that list may be Mr. Nugget himself, Aaron Gordon. To say he put up a stinker while looking far less mobile and athletic than we're used to seeing may be an understatement. Is it time for him to get a breather already in favor of second-round sensation Trevon Brazile? Maybe. Because otherwise, something seems up.
Gordon was off to an explosive start in the preseason, and he was the Nuggets' leading scorer at 59 points in 59 minutes, or 14.8 points per game. But Gordon's not looked the same, and he had just 5 points and 6 rebounds in 30 minutes against the Blazers. He's only averaging 11.5 points over the first six games, well off his 16.2 points from last year.
And even worse, Gordon isn't passing the eye test. He isn't getting into the lane and driving. He's settling for jumpers, and on defense, he's not moving well. He even just straight up fell down guarding Jrue Holiday on the perimeter.
If he's not hurt, the Nuggets have to start giving him some games off.
Trevon Brazile will do just fine in Gordon's spot
Brazile has been off to a smoking hot start, and he's rapidly becoming a fan favorite. He's been a monster on the defensive end of the court, and he's one of the toughest players in the league to score on after his first six games. He had a great steal and dunk to end the first quarter against the Blazers, and his defense has been a huge surprise and a great addition to the team.
Brazile's athleticism makes him a great stand-in for Gordon in the dunker spot on offense, and he's already shown that he can be a lob threat down low. Brazile's a great rebounder, averaging 6.3 per game off the bench, and he can even provide the three-point spacing that Gordon brings, knocking down 35.3% from beyond the arc.
It's not ideal to have to take a chance and rest Gordon, but with the way he looks, it would be better to rest him now than risk overplaying him before the calendar even flips to 2027. Of course, it might be difficult to get Gordon the rest if Cameron Johnson is hurt and misses time. Cam grabbed at his hamstring, and Brazile was subbed in for him at the end of the Blazers game. But if anything, it looks like Gordon at least needs a bit of a breather.
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