Peyton Watson has revealed that the Denver Nuggets rushed his recovery from a hamstring injury, and the decision ultimately cost the team his services throughout the 2026 NBA playoffs. Watson first strained his right hamstring in February against the New York Knicks, and doctors diagnosed a Grade 2 tear that sidelined him for six weeks. Consequently, he missed a significant chunk of the regular season before returning to action in March against the Portland Trail Blazers.
How the Peyton Watson Hamstring Injury Derailed Denver’s Season
Although Watson worked his way back onto the court, the injury flared up again in early April, and as a result he sat out the entire postseason. According to Watson, the setback produced symptoms similar to his original injury, and he admitted that Denver had not taken the right approach with his rehabilitation. Meanwhile, Watson’s agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, later explained that he had urged his client to protect himself rather than risk further damage during a contract year. Therefore, Denver moved forward in the playoffs without one of its most versatile two-way wings.
Before the setback, Watson had built a genuine breakout campaign. Indeed, he averaged 14.6 points per game in 2025-26, a sharp increase from 8.1 points the previous season, while his three-point percentage climbed from 35.3% to 41.1%. Additionally, he strengthened Denver’s defense at both forward spots, fitting seamlessly alongside Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon. In fact, coaches had planned to deploy him as the primary defender against Jaden McDaniels in the series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, so his absence weighed heavily on the team’s title hopes.
What the Peyton Watson Hamstring Injury Cost Him and the Nuggets
Ultimately, Watson addressed the criticism he received for sitting out, explaining that the rehabilitation process left him feeling unhealthy heading into the playoffs. Since then, he has moved on via a sign-and-trade agreement with the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he signed a four-year, $88 million contract. Overall, the outcome still worked in his favor, even though Denver’s season ended without him.
