The Denver Nuggets were knocked out of the playoffs in seven games to the Oklahoma City Thunder. After the game, Aaron Gordon asked the league for more rest days, causing former five-time NBA champion Ron Harper to call him out.
Related: OKC advances: Thunder dominate Nuggets to win Game 7
Aaron Gordon was the unsung hero all postseason for Denver. Then, in Game 6, Gordon suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain.
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Gordon toughed it out and played in Game 7, putting up eight points and 11 rebounds in 25 minutes. This was a gutsy performance for Gordon, but with a little extra time off, he may have played better.
Aaron Gordon giving it his all in Game 7 with a grade 2 hamstring strain ???? pic.twitter.com/d1h626Nmef
— ESPN (@espn) May 18, 2025
After the game, Gordon spoke about how the players need more time off for recovery between games. Especially in the playoffs.
“You saw it around the league, like Steph with the hamstring, you know what I mean,” Gordon said. “JT — man, big respect to Jayson Tatum, man. I hope he gets better quick. I mean, there’s guys like Dame.
“You know, there’s guys all around the league that are just like, you know, suffering just like fatigue-based injuries because the games are so closely stacked together.”
Gordon’s comments led former Chicago Bulls great Ron Harper to call him out on the social media platform X.
“How about playing harder? In the ’80s, ’90s, and 70s it wasn’t blow outs like now with less days off.”
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
Is Harper being a little too hard on Gordon? Today’s league does have the most advanced equipment to recover and train, not to mention travel.
If the players are better today than in years past, they certainly should be able to handle what previous generations had to deal with.
Harper might be correct here.
