The Nuggets are getting the best version of Aaron Gordon so far this season, largely because we’ve seen almost every different version. He’s averaging over 20 points a game, something he’s never even come close to doing in a season, but that figure is propped up by his opening night 50-piece.
And that scoring aberration is exactly what’s making Gordon so good; he’s doing whatever the Nuggets need. On opening night, the team couldn’t get it going, so he stepped it up, pouring in 10 three-pointers.
But on other nights, we’ve seen him focus on defense, efficient scoring, and doing the dirty work. They’ve needed him to crash the glass at times, and he’s done so; they’ve needed him to space the floor and hit threes at times, and he’s done so; they’ve needed him to be a jack of all trades, and that’s exactly what he has done.
Gordon isn’t going to score 30 a game, nor do the Nuggets need him to. This team will have plenty of scoring, but they’ll be challenged in other ways. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray are incredible offensive players, but AG has to be the defensive leader.
Gordon’s scoring an added bonus for Nuggets
Gordon has to anchor the defense, often guarding the other team’s best wing players, while carrying a large rebounding burden and being tasked with protecting the rim. He has to do a bit of everything and adapt his game based on the opponent and the players he’s sharing the floor with.
He has passed every test with flying colors and then some, and is adding more and more on offense as well. He has always been great out of the dunker spot and in the corners, but he has become an elite shooter all over the floor, a guy who can run some offense, and pressure a defense in a variety of ways.
The 50-point game was obviously an outlier, but just knowing that he’s capable of that is a game-changer. To have two weapons like Jokic and Murray is amazing, but to have a third star like Gordon, who can explode at any time and carry the squad in a variety of ways, is a blessing.
Some of the new additions and role players have gotten off to a slow start, but Gordon has raised his game and given the team what they’ve needed to keep racking up wins. If the Nuggets get this version of Aaron Gordon all season, they’re going to be in great shape.