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5x NBA Champion Doesn’t Entertain Aaron Gordon’s Strong Message to the NBA

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By James Morgan | Last updated May 20, 2025 11:26 AM ET

Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon drew praise for battling through a Grade 2 hamstring sprain to play in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Gordon was clearly laboring through his injury during Game 7, but still provided a boost to the Nuggets.

Gordon finished Game 7 with eight points and 11 rebounds in a playoff-low 24 minutes played. Despite his heroic effort, Gordon and Denver lost to the Thunder in a 125-93 blowout.

Following the game, Gordon was not happy with the NBA for how it schedules in the playoffs.

"I would really, really appreciate it if there were a couple of days in between games in the playoffs instead of every other day," Gordon said. "Regardless, if you go seven games, you know, I understand if you do your work early and you get first-seed, then you can have some time off, but 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 continued. "I think there would be just a better product on the floor. Just to give all of these professional athletes just one more day of rest and you would see a higher level of basketball. Probably less blowouts."

Former NBA legend Ron Harper, who won five NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, did not agree with Gordon. Harper asserted his stance via social media.

"How about playing harder… in the 80s 90s and 70s it wasn’t blow outs like now with less days off," said Harper. Harper played with Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, so it is understandable why he does not accept any sort of excuses.

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

It is tough to question how hard the Nuggets played. Denver, who was coming off a seven-game series against the Los Angeles Clippers, ran out of gas and had key injuries to forwards Michael Porter and Aaron Gordon. The Thunder have far more depth than the Nuggets and entered the series with plenty of rest after sweeping the Memphis Grizzlies.

Harper does raise a good point that there are more blowouts in the modern NBA than in previous decades, but much of that is attributed to the fact that the NBA plays at a much faster pace and shoots way more three pointers.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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