The Denver Nuggets entered the 2025-26 season as perennial contenders, but persistent injuries — particularly the rising wave of soft-tissue ailments — prevented them from ever reaching their full potential. While Nikola Jokic’s 16-game absence marked the longest stretch of his decorated career, it was the untimely soft-tissue injuries to two of their most athletic and impactful defenders that proved decisive in their playoff exit.
According to data compiled by Kirk Goldsberry at The Ringer, soft-tissue injuries are increasing leaguewide at a concerning rate. For the Nuggets, the trend struck at the worst possible moment. Both Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson, cornerstones of Denver’s defensive identity and athletic versatility, battled recurring hamstring issues that robbed the team of its physical edge against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Gordon, often described as the glue that holds the Nuggets together, re-aggravated a Grade 2 right hamstring injury in March. He returned only to suffer a left-calf strain that severely limited his mobility and forced him to miss three games in the playoff series. His absence was felt immediately in Denver’s ability to match Minnesota’s physicality and transition defense.
Watson’s situation was even more debilitating. After initially suffering a Grade 2 right hamstring strain in early February, he re-aggravated the injury and missed the entire series against the Timberwolves. Watson appeared in just five games following his late-March return and was never able to regain his rhythm or explosive presence on the floor.
These were not isolated misfortunes. The Nuggets’ injury woes mirrored — and in some cases exemplified — a broader league trend. This season alone, the Lakers watched Luka Doncic’s campaign end prematurely with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain on April 2. The Timberwolves themselves lost Donte DiVincenzo to a ruptured Achilles tendon against Denver.
The echoes from the previous postseason only reinforced the pattern. Tyrese Haliburton tore his right Achilles in Game 7 of the 2024-25 Finals while already dealing with a calf strain, and Damian Lillard suffered a left Achilles tear in Game 4 of those playoffs. Neither was able to suit up in 2025-26. Jayson Tatum, who ruptured his right Achilles in Game 4 of the 2024-25 playoffs, provided a rare success story with a strong recovery, appearing in 16 regular-season games and six playoff contests.
For the Nuggets, the cumulative effect went beyond missing games. With Gordon limited to just 36 regular-season appearances, Denver struggled to develop consistent chemistry and rhythm. Building a cohesive unit becomes extraordinarily difficult when key pieces are in and out of the lineup, especially when those pieces are as integral to both ends of the floor as Gordon and Watson.
While the Nuggets undoubtedly possess the talent to compete at the highest level, injuries robbed them of the opportunity to display a fully healthy and synchronized roster. The data from The Ringer removes any debate: soft-tissue injuries are no longer anomalies but a troubling, growing reality across the NBA. For Denver, that reality arrived at the most critical juncture, ultimately derailing a season filled with promise. As the league grapples with this trend, teams like the Nuggets will be looking for answers — both in training methods and roster construction — to stay ahead of an injury landscape that continues to evolve.