The 5 most important Denver Nuggets heading into the 2022-23 NBA season

Aaron Gordon

Rounding out the list is Aaron Gordon, another one of the NBA’s best-kept secrets.

Many basketball fans remember the high-flying forward for his legendary dunk contest performances. However, “Air Gordon” does much more than simply punish the rim for the Denver Nuggets.

Since arriving in Denver via trade during the 2020-21 season, Gordon has developed into one of the NBA’s premier defenders. The versatile 27-year-old effectively guards one through five better than most, and he consistently takes on the assignment of the opposing team’s best player, night in and night out.

In April 2021, Mike Singer of The Denver Post described the luxury Denver gains from Gordon’s presence.

He also mentioned a week-long stretch where Gordon guarded Kawhi Leonard, Trae Young, Ben Simmons, and John Collins. The Nuggets went 3-0 during that stretch and boasted a top-ten defensive rating.

Last season, Gordon produced the most efficient campaign of his career so far. Nikola Jokic’s impact has seemingly transformed Gordon into a different player from his days in Orlando.

During his time with the Magic, Gordon averaged 12.9 points per game and shot 44.7 percent from the field.

Since joining the Denver Nuggets, Gordon has played and started in 100 games. He played 75 of those games last season, averaging 15.0 points per contest while shooting a career-high 52.0 percent from the field and draining 33.5 percent of his threes. Gordon even sunk a career-high 74.3 percent of his free throws.

Furthermore, Gordon also knocked down 60.5 percent of his two-point shots, marking a seven-percent improvement upon his second-best season in that category.

Gordon does have limitations when it comes to his offensive game. The 6-foot-8 forward has disappointed in two playoff showings with the Nuggets, coming up particularly short last season when he shot 42.6 percent from the field and 20.0 percent from downtown in five games against the eventual 2022 NBA champs.

However, Gordon slots in as the fourth option at best when the Nuggets are at full strength. He should not be expected to carry a significant offensive load over the course of next season, but his defensive versatility will prove vital.

In seven games without Gordon last season, the Nuggets saw their defensive rating dip from 112.1 to 115.7. While players like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Bruce Brown will provide the Nuggets with defensive help on the perimeter, Gordon will continue to serve as Denver’s defensive anchor.