The Denver Nuggets saw their 2024–25 NBA Playoff run come to an end in the Western Conference Semifinals, falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a decisive Game 7. Heading into the matchup, one of the biggest concerns surrounding the Nuggets was the status of Aaron Gordon, who had been the team’s second offensive option behind Nikola Jokic.
Despite expectations that he would miss the pivotal contest due to a lingering hamstring injury, Gordon and the team cleared him to play just before tipoff. But according to three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, Gordon may have been better off sitting out. The Serbian star later admitted he advised his teammate not to take the risk.
“I told him not to play,” Jokic revealed during his postgame press conference following the 117–100 loss. “You can injure yourself even worse. You could see he was struggling—hard to move, this and that. But he went out there to fight with us. We can just appreciate that.”
Gordon wasn’t at full strength, and his impact was limited. Still, he managed to contribute eight points on 2-of-4 shooting and pulled down an impressive 11 rebounds in 25 minutes. While clearly not at peak form, his effort stood out, and his presence alone offered Denver a lift—though perhaps not enough to change the outcome.
When compared to his NBA regular-season output, Gordon’s Game 7 stats marked a step down. He finished the season averaging 14.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists across 51 games. In the playoffs, he elevated his game, averaging 16.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists through 14 appearances.
Gordon had been managing a Grade 2 hamstring strain—a soft-tissue injury that typically requires multiple weeks of recovery. Nonetheless, he pushed through the discomfort and suited up for Denver’s most important game of the year. Afterward, he spoke candidly about the decision with team insider Brendan Vogt.
“I was pretty sure I was going to play,” Gordon said. “I was doing everything I could possibly do to be out there fighting for my teammates.” When asked if he felt pain during the game, he admitted, “Not much. Just wish I played better.”
On the other end, Jokic once again delivered a strong individual performance, finishing with 20 points on 5-of-9 shooting, along with nine rebounds and seven assists. He did commit five turnovers, but the load he carried all season long was undeniable. Jokic wrapped up his campaign with averages of 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds and 10.2 assists per game—numbers worthy of MVP consideration.