The Denver Nuggets have been dealing with injuries across the board this season, and while the 2023 NBA champions are still considered title contenders this year, missed time from Nikola Jokic, Christian Braun, Peyton Watson, and, most recently and notably, Aaron Gordon has all loomed over the team.
However, in Gordon’s case, as he has been out since late January with a hamstring issue, the latest injury update on the forward bodes well for the Nuggets.
According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, Gordon is targeting Denver’s March 6th game against the New York Knicks as his return from injury.
“Per a league source close to Gordon, the veteran forward — who re-aggravated his right hamstring injury on Jan. 23 — is targeting a return in Friday’s home game against the New York Knicks,” Amick wrote. “It remains to be seen if he’ll get the necessary clearance from the Nuggets, who are being understandably cautious here in light of the setback he suffered six weeks ago.”
It remains to be seen if he gets cleared by then, but Denver desperately needs him – again.
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Gordon has played in only 23 games for the Nuggets this season, but he remains nearly as important to the team’s success as Jokic and Jamal Murray. In those 23 games, he’s put up 17.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists on 50.9% shooting.
Aaron Gordon Injury Update And Return Date
Gordon has missed two major stretches this season with hamstring injuries. The first came earlier in the year, as he sat out for nearly six weeks from late November until early January.
After playing in just ten games, the forward went down again with another hamstring injury on January 23rd and has been out since.
Hamstring injuries are no joke, and if he does suffer another one this season or in the Nuggets’ expected playoff run, it could mean a more long-term and serious injury. That’s why, as Amick wrote, Denver is taking a cautious approach with his recovery.
“Gordon missed 19 games earlier this season with the hamstring injury, then pulled up lame on a routine rebound against the Milwaukee Bucks in his 10th game back and has been sidelined ever since. As such, there is clearly a high level of concern and care being exercised about his return.”
He was originally slated to be out for four to six weeks, but the latest Gordon injury update signals that he’ll return on Friday against the Knicks.
Denver has gone 21-18 in the games Gordon has missed this season, as he’s missed 39 of the team’s total 62 games in 2025-26.
“During that time, meanwhile, Gordon and the Nuggets were reminded of two harsh realities that have been in direct conflict with one another for months,” Amick added. “1. Hamstrings can be brutal to recover from in the middle of an 82-game regular season. 2. Gordon might be the most important role player in the NBA.”
While Gordon is the Nuggets’ third option on offense, he’s the first option on defense, able to guard top opposing forwards at a high level. Without him, Denver has a 118.8 defensive rating this season, and with him, that drops down to 115.2. Not a major difference, but enough to briefly show that he matters a lot on the defensive side of the ball.
Based on the latest Gordon injury update, getting him back for the final five weeks of the regular season and keeping him healthy for a playoff run will be massive for the Nuggets in hopes of making another title push.
Nuggets Injury Report, Updates On Peyton Watson, Spencer Jones, and Cam Johnson
As mentioned, Denver has been extremely unhealthy this season, as Jokic and Braun, along with Gordon, have missed major stretches of the season. Jokic was sidelined for over a month with a hyperextended knee, and while he has returned to his mostly-normal triple-double self, he is at risk of missing out on the NBA’s end-of-season awards due to the 65-game eligibility rule.
Braun was out with an ankle injury for nearly two months from early November until early January. Like Gordon, he is a top defensive option for the team and has played in just 28 games this season.
Currently, the Nuggets are dealing with other concerning injuries to rising star Watson, backup wing Spencer Jones, and now Cam Johnson.
Watson, having the best season of his career by far, has been out for a month with a hamstring injury of his own. It was reported a few days ago that he is ramping up basketball activities and will be re-examined in the next few days.
Jones has been out for a few games with a shoulder injury and is currently listed as day-to-day.
Johnson is in a similar boat, as after a disappointing first season with the Nuggets, he is facing an ankle injury that sidelined him in the team’s last game against the Utah Jazz. It isn’t expected to be a long-term issue, but it is just another health concern facing Denver this year.
But the best news for the Nuggets is that Gordon is eyeing a return this week. The team will likely keep him on a minutes restriction for the first few games after he gets back on the court, but having him out there with Jokic and Murray will help show the true potential of this Denver team.
Aaron Gordon Injury Update: Nuggets Finally Get Return Date On Star Forward