San Jose, California, Aaron Gordon, an American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets, will miss at least the next few games due to a right calf strain.
He felt discomfort in the calf while playing against the Phoenix Sun in the last week of December 2024, similar to the injury that kept him out for 10 games.
Highlights
- Aaron Gordon is considered to miss his game against the La Clippers due to his right calf strain.
- He is one of the Nuggets’ essential players and helped his team to fourth place in the Western Conference.
- Previously, he suffered from a severe hip flexor in January 2018 and a high-ankle sprain in his left ankle in February 2021.
Aaron Gordon led his Archbishop Mitty High School team to win the CIF Division II title and broke the state championship record by gathering 21 rebounds.
He committed to play for the University of Arizona, where he was named one of the 30 finalists for the Naismith College Player of the Year on February 13, 2014.
Later, he declared for the NBA draft, and the Orlando Magic selected him as the fourth overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft.
Aaron was the runner-up to Zach LaVine in the Slam Dunk Contest during the 2016 NBA All-Star Weekend.
On March 22, 2021, he requested a trade from the Magic and was traded to the Denver Nuggets, where he won his first NBA championship in 2023.
Aaron Gordon’s Injury Kept Him Away From Competing Against LA Clippers
Denver Nuggets has a solid start this season, sitting fourth in the Western Conference with a 19-13 record. However, they are worried for the franchise due to a key player’s injury.
Head coach Michael Malone is cautious with Aaron Gordon’s recovery, considering his importance to their lineup.
Aaron Gordon won’t play on this road trip for the Nuggets. Coach Malone says he’s moving in the right direction, but no timeline for return.
— Katy Winge (@katywinge) November 13, 2024
“Calf strains can be really tricky, really finicky, so you have to be careful how much you’re pushing it.”
AG after practice ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/1uvoAq4ozM
Aaron is one of the Nuggets’ best defenders and an essential part of their starting lineup.
His injury was a bad sign for the franchise earlier this season, and the team worries about his soft-tissue injury.
He isn’t quite ready to return and is considered doubtful for Wednesday’s game against the Clippers in the second leg of a back-to-back set.
Moreover, there isn’t any timetable for his return, so he’ll also likely miss back-to-back sets against the San Antonio Spurs.
Aaron has averaged 13.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game this season. He also shot 52.3% from the field and 44.0% from three.
Nikola Jokic struggles to push higher in the West standings, as the team cannot afford to have their power forward miss many games. They sit four games ahead of the Phoenix Suns for the 11th spot.
Thus, Aaron’s extended injury period could hurt their chances of a high seed in the playoffs. Russell Westbrook‘s position in the starting lineup has worked out well for the Nuggets.
If Michael changes the starting lineup, Julian Strawther and Peyton Watson should increase playing time and start some games.
Nonetheless, Aaron is an essential player in the Nuggets’ success, so they shouldn’t rush his return to ensure he is healthy when the playoffs start.
Aaron Gordon’s Injury History In His NBA Career
Since the beginning of his NBA career, Aaron Gordon has dealt with several injuries that kept him away from playing. He even had multiple concussions that cost him several games in his NBA journey.
Moreover, he missed many games due to injuries in his calf, foot, face, heel, shoulder, ribs, ankle, hamstring, knee, and Achilles.
Aaron Gordon will miss 'multiple weeks' due to a right calf strain, per @ShamsCharania pic.twitter.com/VSJXhnpoKf
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 5, 2024
Aaron’s first notable injury was a fractured bone in his left foot on November 16, 2014. He missed 32 games and played against the Oklahoma City Thunder on January 18, 2015.
On December 8, 2015, he faced an ankle sprain but did not miss any games for the Orlando Magic at the time of the injury. Likewise, his foot injury kept him out of 2 games in February 2017.
He suffered a severe hip flexor during a game against the Indiana Pacers in January 2018 while making a defensive play.
He felt a pull in his left hip but played through the remainder of the game. However, he woke up with the severity of the injury the following day, which forced him to miss 9 games.
Similarly, the power forward suffered a hamstring injury in the NBA Bubble, which cost him the first-round series of the 2020 playoffs.
He also experienced a significant high-ankle sprain in his left ankle during the third quarter against the Toronto Raptors in February 2021. Later, he missed fifteen games.
Additional Information
- Aaron Gordon, the son of Ed Gordon and Shelly Davis Gordon, was born on September 16, 1995, in San Jose, California.
- His brother, Drew Gordon, who played most of his basketball career overseas in Europe, lost his life due to a traffic collision in Clackamas County, Oregon, on May 30, 2024.
- He is possibly single as of 2025, but previously, he dated Dakota Gonzalez and Izabela Guedes.
- His net worth is estimated at $50 million as of 2025, and he earns $19 million annually.
