New Cleveland Cavaliers forward Peyton Watson reportedly chose not to return for the 2026 Playoffs with the Denver Nuggets to protect himself for free agency.
Watson’s agent Rich Paul has already confirmed that Watson was being carefully managed at the end of a contract year in which he had suffered multiple injuries throughout the season.
After Nuggets fans criticised Watson for sitting out while teammates like Aaron Gordon played through injuries, the 23-year-old forward has finally addressed the truth of the situation.
Peyton Watson reveals Nuggets treatment failures forced his hand
Watson appeared on former Nuggets teammate Michael Porter Jr.’s podcast to discuss the end of his tenure in Denver, revealing the late-season injury process that ultimately kept him out of the playoffs.
“It was really tough. When I got injured in New York, it was a sickening feeling. I was up for Most Improved and a lot of other stuff. Two or three weeks into my rehab, I felt like they were ramping me up too quickly.”
“I remember feeling pressure to get back and get some games under my belt to warm up for the playoffs. At one of the last games of the season, I reinjured my hamstring, so we went and got an MRI, and the doctors said it looked the same as the first time I injured it.”
“So, a Grade 2 hamstring in Game 80 of the season. Now, I’m feeling like we rushed it and didn’t take the right approach. I remember going into the Playoffs, I just didn’t feel healthy.”
Watson averaged 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists last season, having a breakout around December when he shone on an injury-stricken Nuggets.
Given how hamstring strains can be finicky and playing through them can open the door for far worse injuries, Watson was within his rights not to risk playing in the Playoffs after the Nuggets already failed to correctly treat his injury in the interest of getting him back on the court.
It seems his exit from the Nuggets was perfectly timed, as both player and organisation have reasons to hold bad blood against each other after this offseason.
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