The Denver Nuggets stand one win away from their very first NBA championship.
And while obviously most of that has to do with Nikola Jokic’s and Jamal Murray’s stellar play, Aaron Gordon has also stepped up big time in the NBA Finals.
Gordon had his second outstanding performance in the past four games, dominating inside with 27 points on 11-15 shooting.
The former lottery pick was so impressive that Murray credited him for the win, stating that he’s a ‘dog.’
"That's why we got him. He's a dog."
Jamal Murray on Aaron Gordon, who scored 27 PTS on 11-15 from the field in the Game 4 win.#NBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/DXBcQmT1h1
— NBA (@NBA) June 10, 2023
Truth be told, Gordon is playing the best basketball of his career.
He obviously didn’t live up to the expectations when he entered the league with the Orlando Magic, but it’s not like he was put in a situation to succeed, either.
The Magic had multiple coaches, and he was asked to embrace a role as a No. 1 or No. 2 option, which obviously isn’t suited for his game.
He’s now found his footing in Denver, thriving as a slasher and a cutter and making the most of favorable matchups when needed, and his defense has been nothing short of stellar.
Gordon was expected to be a superstar, but that was never his game.
Mike Malone has made the most of his freakish athleticism and ability to make an impact on both ends of the floor, proving that sometimes all a player needs to take a leap forward is a change of scenery.
From a bottom-feeder to likely an NBA Champion, he’s most definitely come a long way.
But there’s still some more work to do.
NEXT: NBA Analyst Has A Suggestion For Mike Malone About Michael Porter Jr.