Denver Nuggets' Aaron Gordon logged 24 minutes in Game 7 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, pulling down 11 rebounds and contributing eight points, even though he was visibly hampered by his hamstring strain injury. His determination to play through pain underscored the physical toll the condensed playoff schedule takes on NBA players.

In his postgame press conference, Gordon revealed the grueling recovery process he underwent in the 36 to 48 hours between games, including hot and cold therapy, massages, and hyperbaric treatments, all aimed at getting him ready to compete.

More time off between NBA playoffs

Despite the severity of his injury and the limited recovery time, Gordon said, “I never said no, there was never a doubt in my mind that I wasn’t gonna play today.”

Gordon’s experience fueled a heartfelt plea for the NBA to reconsider its playoff scheduling. He called for more rest days between games, arguing that the current format—typically games every other day—is too taxing on players and ultimately diminishes the quality of basketball on display.

“I would really, really appreciate it if there were a couple of days off in-between games in the playoffs, regardless if you go seven games,” Gordon said. 

“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. The product of the game would be a lot better. Just one more day of rest, and you’d see a higher level of basketball. Probably less blowouts,” he added.

The toll of a condensed schedule

The 2025 playoffs have been notably injury-riddled, with stars like Jayson Tatum (Achilles tear), Stephen Curry (hamstring strain), and Damian Lillard (Achilles tear) sidelined or playing hurt. The Nuggets themselves played nine games in 17 days during their second-round series, with as little as 36 hours between some matchups. 

Modern NBA basketball requires players to cover more ground and maintain intense defensive effort every possession, increasing fatigue. By the time teams reach May and June, they have often played 90 or more games, leading to wear and tear that can affect performance and health.

A call for the league’s attention

Gordon’s plea resonates beyond his own team. He expressed solidarity with other injured stars, emphasizing that many injuries this postseason are fatigue-related. He believes that often the team that wins is the one that remains healthiest, not necessarily the most talented.

His message calls for the NBA to seriously consider revising its playoff schedule to allow players more recovery time to improve the quality of basketball and reduce injury risk.