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Aaron Gordon Calls Out NBA After Nuggets’ Playoff Exit

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Svyato Rovenchuk | Last updated May 19, 2025 1:02 PM ET

The 2024-25 NBA season officially came to an end for the Denver Nuggets on Sunday night. Aaron Gordon was not happy about it.

The Nuggets were blown out in a one-sided 125-93 ball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night. The Thunder were able to grab control of the game in the second quarter, and they kept pouring it on from there.

Gordon, who was playing through a grade 2 hamstring strain, in Game 7 could not do much to affect the outcome of this one. The Nuggets star finished with only 8 points and 11 rebounds.

Gordon challenges the NBA after series loss to Thunder

Gordon had been a difference maker throughout the playoffs, with several key moments changing how the Nuggets’ run unfolded. Playing through the big-time injury proved to be too much for him in the end.

The athletic forward believed the NBA had a hand in dictating the outcome of this series, taking issue with the way the league builds its playoff schedule out.

Gordon said, “I would really, really appreciate it if there were a couple of days in between games in the playoffs instead of every other day. The product of the game would be a lot better. You'll see a higher level of basketball. Probably less blowouts."

The former champion added: “You saw it around the league like Steph [Curry] with the hamstring, JT [Jayson Tatum], Dame [Lillard]. There's guys all around the league that are just like suffering fatigue based injuries because the games are so closely stacked together. A lot of the times, it's the team that's most healthy [who are winning].”

The Nuggets certainly had other issues throughout the NBA Playoffs as well, but health did play a role in the outcome. Gordon’s critiques are not without substance entirely.

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

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