Peyton Watson says Denver Nuggets rushed his return from hamstring injury

Peyton Watson recently stated that the Denver Nuggets rushed his recovery from a hamstring injury during the 2025-26 NBA season. The forward, who has since joined the Cleveland Cavaliers on a four-year, $88 million contract, claimed he re-aggravated the injury during game 80 after experiencing a setback in rehabilitation. Watson believes the team's approach was inadequate, ultimately forcing him to miss the postseason series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Prior to the injury, Watson saw significant growth in his role, increasing his scoring average to 14.6 points per game and shooting 41.1% from three-point range. His agent, Rich Paul, had previously discouraged the player from returning too early due to pending free agency concerns. The Denver Nuggets lost a perimeter defender and rotational piece as a result of the ongoing health issues and the subsequent roster changes.

• 11:19 AMYahoo Sports — Peyton Watson on Nuggets hamstring rehab: 'I remember feeling pressure to get back'
• 4:11 AMYahoo Sports — Peyton Watson admits that the Nuggets rushed him back after his hamstring injury