Center The Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokić had not yet accepted his first MVP trophy. The Nuggets were yet to have their first parade in their history as a team. But Aaron Gordon knew what was in store for him even before Denver acquired him prior to the 2021 trade deadline.
Gordon said, “I thought this team would win championships.”
The Nuggets advanced to the 2020 Western Conference Finals by overcoming two 3-1 deficits in their playoff series against the Utah Jazz and LA Clippers. Jokić has shown he has what it takes to be a premier center. Jamal Murray has shown that he has what it takes to become a fantastic point guard.
With the play of Aaron Gordon, Denver reaches new heights.
To complete their championship puzzle, however, the Nuggets required more defense and depth after losing in five games to the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. Nearly two years after getting Gordon from Orlando before the 2021 trade deadline and adding Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the summer of 2022, the Nuggets have nearly completed that puzzle. Michael Malone of the Nuggets considered those acts to be his most significant non-draft selections in his nine years as coach.
“Those make a difference,” said Malone. “That made a big difference and put us in a position to win a championship once we were healthy.”
One year after winning their first championship together, the Nuggets could become the 26th team out of 76 to win consecutive NBA titles.
Denver won the NBA Finals, sweeping the Lakers for the second year in a row. The No. 2 Nuggets play the third-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves in their second-round playoff series on Saturday, with home court advantage and experience. Moreover, Jokić and Murray remain the NBA’s most dependable duo in terms of chemistry and production.
The Nuggets, along with the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, and Miami Heat, have further reasons to think that they will be among the select few teams to successfully defend an NBA championship. the main one? This is a tribute to Gordon, whose flexible defense, rebounding prowess, and inconsistent scoring have helped the Nuggets win game after game.
“It’s imperative that he recognizes his responsibility,” Jokić said. “He is aware of what to do.” Without him, our team wouldn’t be the same.
Consider all the various ways Gordon has enhanced the Nuggets.
During Denver’s championship run the previous season, Gordon was fourth on the team in scoring (13.3 points per game) and third in rebounds (6.0). He nearly exactly matched those numbers in terms of points (13.8) and rebounds (9.8) in Denver’s first-round matchup with the Lakers.
Gordon was successful in the regular season against some very tough opponents, including Paulo Banchero (3-for-9) of Orlando, Clippers player Kawhi Leonard (3-for-9) and Golden State’s Stephen Curry (5-for-14). Gordon also had great defensive play in the postseason against Lakers players Anthony Davis (5-for-12) and D’Angelo Russell (0-for-6). LeBron James played well (20-for-32) against him, but Gordon forced him into six turnovers. Gordon scored 29 points and pulled down 15 rebounds in Game 3 of Denver’s triumph over the Lakers, postseason career highs.
Aaron Gordon is among those individuals who never voice grievances. There is never anything. According to Malone, “He just goes out there and does his job.” He is a good example of selflessness in its purest form. Very thankful that agreement we made all those years ago allowed us to bring him here.
The Orlando Magic immediately turned to Gordon, the No. 4 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, as their go-to player. It seldom produced a winning season, even with five missed postseason trips and two first-round playoff exits (2014–21). The Nuggets were won over by Gordon’s physicality, athleticism, and team-oriented play, though. Denver had to give up a first-round pick (2025), a potential young player (R.J. Hampton), and a solid two-way player (Gary Harris) in order to acquire Gordon.
Malone said, “You have to give something up when you make a trade of that magnitude.” My early years in Denver were greatly influenced by Gary Harris. I love and miss Gary. But where can you find a player that can play several positions, like Aaron Gordon, in the current NBA who is a starting power forward and a backup center? Really, right now, he’s doing everything for us.
Gordon made an impression as soon as he arrived in Denver. In just his third game with the Nuggets, Gordon scored 14 points, pulled down six rebounds, grabbed three steals, blocked two shots, and helped Denver defeat the fully healthy Clippers. Malone believed the Nuggets had a legitimate shot at winning the NBA after seeing that game.
When Murray tore his ACL in the latter month of the 2020–21 season, all of that was changed. In the second-round demolition of the Nuggets by the Phoenix Suns, Gordon averaged nine points on just 41% shooting. In addition, he grabbed almost as many rebounds (3.8) as turnovers (2.3) and fouls (2.5). A year later, Gordon demonstrated his development by averaging 13.8 points at a 42.6% shooting percentage and 7.2 rebounds per game in the Nuggets’ first-round playoff series versus Golden State. The Nuggets lost five games despite Murray’s and Michael Porter Jr.’s back issues.
“You take those injuries out of the running. “I thought we would have already won a championship,” Gordon said. With these gentlemen, playing is a lot of fun. These guys are incredibly talented. In other words, the strain is lessened since they are so excellent at the sport.
Jokić and Murray were playing “a crazy-two man game,” according to Gordon, so let’s start there. Gordon praised Jokić for playing “the right way” and called him a “basketball genius” because of his preference for team play over individual effort. Gordon called Murray “a cold killer” for his ability to make crucial passes and shots.
Gordon, who has perfected punishing opponents with his off-ball cuts, timely rebounds, and accurate passes while they are preoccupied with monitoring Jokić, Murray, and Porter, is another reason for the Nuggets’ efficacy. Since Gordon frequently finds himself in the right place at the right moment, it is only natural that his teammates frequently search for him.
Porter remarked, “He’s an easy target to find.” You may toss the ball anywhere, and chances are good he’ll go fetch it, toss it up hard, and slam it. Consequently, he is constantly searching for me, even when things are changing. He is aware of the kind of pictures I can make. I am also aware of his comfort zones.
Gordon referred to himself as “a utility guy” because of his proficiency with those subtleties. Instead of relying on certain playcalls, he and his teammates have largely prospered under the Nuggets’ read-and-react approach. This has given the Nuggets players—Gordon included—the ability to maximize their basketball intelligence.
But the Nuggets have a broader perspective on Gordon. They contend that he ought to have participated in the All-Star game this season. They also give him credit for how he has developed and how he might continue to be the team’s missing winning component to go along with Jokić, Murray, and Porter.
Gordon is “definitely undervalued,” according to Murray. Each person has a portion. Everyone follows their own path. He is merely one more component of that. He is a shining example of a player who can join a new squad and just fit in.
