It was a tough start to the season for Aaron Gordon. The latest update on the 29-year-old, while somewhat encouraging, is equally concerning. In the early November matchup against the Raptors (which the Nuggets won), Gordon had one ‘questionable’ Day due to inflammation of the right calf and bruised right knee. However, he donned the suit and only played for four minutes before returning to the locker room and finally announcing himself as ‘out of’ for the foreseeable future.

It has now been over three weeks since this incident. Still, the team is not ready to give a timetable for the return. In fact, Nuggets reporter Katy Winge noted that this was the case “No timetable for return yet.”

More concerning, however, is how Gordon is coping with the injury.

Aaron Gordon, a key member of the Nuggets championship team, continued to excel. Therefore, the absence without a clear date of return, especially as the team is struggling, has taken its toll on the basketball player. According to Winge, Michael Malone and AG had an in-depth conversation about his recovery during practice today.

“Coach Malone said he and AG talked for a while today. Malone shared that this calf injury was particularly tough mentally for Gordon. AG has been playing at such a high level and is in good spirits, but there is no timetable for a return yet. Malone said they would be smart.”

In his last game, Gordon recorded three points and one assist. Today’s Knicks matchup will be the ninth straight game he will miss. With Aaron, Denver went 4-3 this season and 5-3 without him. Of the 5 wins, three came with Nikola Jokić. Seen this way, the Nuggets only won two games without AG and Jokić.

How are the Nuggets dealing with Aaron Gordon’s absence?

Aaron Gordon’s absence was a major challenge for the Nuggets. The guy plays a big role in both offense and defense – especially as a player and as a reliable ground defender. Therefore, it is not easy to close this gap. But the team is doing what it can by adjusting roles and giving other guys a chance to step up.

Peyton Watson, Zeke Nnaji and Hunter Tyson have all filled in for AG.

And while Denver is still figuring things out, it’s clear they’ll need to be flexible to stay competitive. This is particularly difficult because the Nuggets have one of the best starting lineups, but their bench depth is a bit lacking Worries.

Offensively, the team is trying to keep the tempo up, even if they are missing Aaron Gordon’s sharp shooting this season. They’re relying more on veterans like Michael Porter Jr. and DeAndre Jordan to carry the load. But on the other hand, this is a great chance for the younger ones to gain real game experience and build good chemistry that could pay off later.

How the Denver Nuggets handle Aaron Gordon’s absence will definitely be a key factor in their success early in the season. And with some important games coming up, the next few weeks could tell us a lot about their resilience.