5 reasons why the Denver Nuggets re-signing Aaron Gordon long-term was a no-brainer
By Tyler Key
Gordon’s contract extension is a steal, not an “overpay” for Denver
Much of the conversation after the contract extension news broke was about why Denver elected to re-sign Gordon, but not Caldwell-Pope. As previously mentioned, with the team salary situation moving forward it was evident that signing both players long-term was unlikely.
The following 5 reasons are all completely logical answers for this decision that showcase exactly why Nuggets fans should be ecstatic about the Gordon extension:
Gordon is still in the middle of his prime - Unlike KCP who will be 32 years old in the coming months, Gordon just turned 29 last month. At the end of the 2028-2029 season, Air Gordon will be 33 years old, meaning that the vast majority of this contract extension will take place while he is still in his prime.
Gordon is crucial in terms of positional value and need - 6’8” forwards with elite athleticism and two-way ability do not grow on trees. There is a reason that Gordon was drafted 4th overall in the 2014 NBA Draft. Guards are much easier to replace and replenish than someone of Gordon’s stature and Denver’s size was a huge reason that they won the 2023 NBA title.
Godon is a versatile borderline-All-Defensive player - In addition to his physical traits, Gordon is an incredibly underrated defender. Not only can the San Jose native step out on the perimeter and defend players like Luka Doncic, Kawhi Leonard, or Kevin Durant, but he can also play backup center and bang down low with players like Anthony Davis and Rudy Gobert.
The Jokic-Gordon connection is elite - The Jokic-Murray two-man game understandably gets a ton of praise from NBA media, but the Jokic-Gordon connection can be just as deadly at times. The front court duo has been one of the most efficient passer-scorer pairs in the entire league since Gordon joined Denver, with many of those being insanely fun alley-oops.
Gordon is Mr. Nugget - The DNVR Nuggets crew rightfully named Gordon the new Mr. Nugget in 2023 and now he is here to stay. While Gordon might not be the first or even second best player on the team, he is the “soul of the team”. He is selfless. He is a culture setter. He prioritizes winning over everything else. Most of all, he is a great teammate and person.
Aaron Gordon and the Nuggets will begin the new season in the blink of an eye as they are set to clash with the Thunder on October 24th. With all of the key Nuggets now locked down for the foreseeable future, the team can finally start focusing solely on basketball soon.