By Josh CohenJuly 20, 2016
Continue to Make Defense Priority
Aaron Gordon possesses very distinctive skills. He has outstanding lateral quickness. He contests every jump shot. He’s extremely disciplined on closeouts. He’s a terrific help defender. He’s versatile enough to guard nearly every position. He has the speed and dynamism to chase down opponents in transition. He’s a capable shot-blocker. Gordon’s abilities make him a potential Defensive Player of the Year candidate. WATCH:
Continue to be Exhilarating
Starting with his unforgettable and mesmerizing performance in the All-Star Weekend dunk contest, Gordon had so many awe-inspiring plays last season. From jaw-dropping putback dunks to jumping from the foul line for jams, Gordon helped sway momentum and get crowds into the action. His athleticism is off the charts and his showmanship is special. WATCH:
Continue to Lead Fast Breaks
Gordon recently said on Magic Drive Time that Frank Vogel wants him to be a point forward in transition. Gordon is very comfortable starting fast breaks and pushing the pace. While sometimes he can be a bit reckless with his ball handling, AG generally makes the right play when he dictates the action. He does an excellent job keeping opponents on their toes and preventing defenses from setting up in the half court. WATCH:
Continue to Take Open Shots
We all know perimeter jump shooting is Gordon’s most significant weakness. He shot just 29 percent from 3-point range and 32 percent on shots from 15 to 19 feet from the basket last season. However, his shortcomings as a shooter have nothing to do with confidence. It also has very little to do with form and mechanics. Even if his shots aren’t dropping, by taking them Gordon is barring defenses from completely sagging off him. WATCH:
Continue to be Hardest Working Guy
Gordon is one of the most well-conditioned and spirited players we’ve ever seen in Magic history. He is pure heart and hustle and he works tirelessly on his craft. Playing with relentless energy and chasing down every 50-50 ball is what we expect from Gordon from game to game. His hard work and enthusiasm is often infectious to his teammates. WATCH: