Home Basketball ‘I think this year he’s playing really simpler’ – Nikola Jokic shares the key to Aaron Gordon’s successful season with the Denver Nuggets

‘I think this year he’s playing really simpler’ – Nikola Jokic shares the key to Aaron Gordon’s successful season with the Denver Nuggets

Basketball — 03/27/2024

The Western Conference took some time to heat up this season, but now that it has, the Denver Nuggets appear to be the West’s team to beat. While everyone is focusing on Nikola Jokic’s MVP performance and the return of Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon has been the Nuggets’ unsung hero this season.

Jokic discusses Gordon’s breakthrough campaign.

Nikola Jokić and Aaron Gordon’s Summer in Serbia: Knuckleheads Podcast | The Players’ Tribune – YouTube.

Nikola Jokić and Aaron Gordon's Summer in Serbia | Knuckleheads Podcast | The Players' Tribune - YouTube

With Murray and Porter taking their time readjusting to NBA action, Gordon was under extra pressure to assist early in the season. And, while Gordon has delivered, he has not slowed down this season. So far, Gordon is having the best season of his career (16.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 2.6 APG, 59.3 FG%), guiding Denver to the West’s top seed.

Gordon’s per-game numbers aren’t drastically different from what we’ve seen throughout his career, but his efficiency has changed him into a completely different player this season. And as Gordon continues to have a breakout season with the Nuggets, his frontcourt partner-in-crime, Jokic, took the time to clarify why he thinks Gordon is having a career year in Denver right now.

Harrison Wind on X: “I’ve heard Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon eat together at Gradska Kafana, a restaurant in downtown Sombor. https://t.co/L1XYL8yZ6j” / X

“I think this year he’s playing really simpler.” — Nikola Jokic, The Denver Post

Harrison Wind on X: "Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon eat together at Gradska Kafana, I'm told, a restaurant in downtown Sombor. https://t.co/l1XYL8yZ6j" / X

Gordon’s little change in playing style makes the Nuggets exceedingly dangerous.

Nikola Jokic’s game-winning block propels Nuggets past Raptors – Mile High Sports.

Gordon has been a frustrating player throughout his career. He had a lot of potential, but he was always making things more difficult for himself than necessary. That is a major reason why the Orlando Magic chose to part ways with Gordon and gain something in exchange by dealing him to the Nuggets.

Nikola Jokic's game-winning block powers Nuggets past Raptors - Mile High Sports

Gordon’s playstyle, on the other hand, has improved since he joined Denver. He’s reduced the number of unnecessary shots he took earlier in his career, which has benefited not only himself but also the Nuggets’ offense as a whole. It clearly helps that he plays with Jokic, but Gordon has done everything he can to improve his game with Denver this season, and the results have been very good.

NBA First Basket Prop Pick: Bet on Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon in Nuggets vs Hornets

NBA First Basket Prop Pick: Bet Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon in Nuggets vs Hornets

With Murray and Porter returning to form, the Nuggets are poised to dominate the Western Conference for the rest of the season. However, Gordon may be Denver’s X-Factor, and if he continues to play at this level, the Nuggets will be difficult to beat for the remainder of the season.