By John Denton
Feb. 1, 2017
ORLANDO – Later this month, Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon could top last February’s jaw-dropping performance in the Slam Dunk Contest and win the dunk title if chosen to participate at the NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans.
But there’s another title that Gordon considers to be much more important and he hopes to win someday soon: NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
Gordon has started opening eyes around the NBA with his defensive versatility after having success against players such as James Harden, DeMar DeRozan, Chris Paul, Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum. Just last week, Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens raved about Gordon, saying he ``has the ability to guard one (point guard) through five (center).’’
Gordon is used to being assigned to the opponents’ best scorer and that was the case again on Wednesday as he matched up against Indiana all-star Paul George. Gordon, 21, said he likes the challenge of knowing that he is being looked to as the Magic’s defensive ace – something that comes natural to him because of his 6-9 length, his strength, his off-the-charts athleticism and his good lateral quickness.
To eventually win the Defensive Player of the Year award, Gordon knows that the Magic must become more of a factor in winning games, winning division titles and being in the playoff chase. Traditionally an award for shot-blocking big men through the years, San Antonio small forward Kawhi Leonard has won the award each of the past two seasons – something Gordon thinks he can eventually do for the Magic.
``To be D-POY, you’ve got to get more wins,’’ Gordon said. ``I don’t care how good of a defender you are, if your team isn’t getting wins, you aren’t going to get D-POY.’’
VOGEL’S VIBES WITH INDY: Wednesday’s game was the third time that Magic coach Frank Vogel has faced his former team in the Indiana Pacers. But the familiarity with the situation has done little to lessen the weird sensations that the coach still gets when coaching against his former team.
Vogel was the head coach of the Pacers for 5 ½ seasons, leading the franchise to two Eastern Conference Finals appearances and five playoff berths.
Still, his contract was not renewed last spring by the Pacers, making him a coaching free agent. Vogel said the almost-immediate interest from several other NBA teams – and the job offer from the Magic – helped to soften the blow of losing the only head coaching job he’d ever had.
``That was a big factor for me,’’ Vogel said of the interest from five other NBA teams. ``(Being let go) was disappointing and a difficult time for me, but as coaches we know that there’s going to be a time when you get fired. It still doesn’t make it easy, but having the interest level – the immediate interest level – being as high as it was, that softened the blow.’’
Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird made the decision not to retain Vogel even though the seventh-seeded Pacers had just taken second-seeded Toronto to seven games in the first round of the playoffs. Bird felt that the Pacers simply needed a change – something the two of them discussed in July over lunch in Orlando.
``I haven’t talked to him since then, but I could if I wanted to reach out and talk to him,’’ Vogel said. ``I’d do so and the same for him. It’s not something where we’re going to talk all the time, but the relationship is still good.’’
Nate McMillan, a former assistant under Vogel, admitted to being shocked when his friend was let go. McMillan, who eventually landed the head coaching job in Indiana, had two 50-win seasons as a head coach in Portland before being fired midway through the 2011-12 season.
``It stung all of us because we felt we did some good things,’’ McMillan said of Vogel’s firing in Indiana. ``I thought he did a good job with the team. As I mentioned to him, I’ve been in that situation before and sometimes it’s just time for a change. You really don’t have any control over situations like that.
``He’s a very good coach and I knew the opportunity was going to be presented to him (elsewhere) pretty soon,’’ McMillan added. ``It happens, and in this business, you’re going to come and go. You hope that things work out, but I really enjoyed my time with (Vogel), working with him and the opportunity that he gave me to come and be a part of his staff. He’s a very good coach.’’
HAIRDO HUMOR: Between Evan Fournier’s ponytail and Elfrid Payton’s bushy, floppy hairstyle that hangs out over his head, the Magic often hear some interesting barbs from fans during road games.
When he’s off the court, Fournier likes the look of long hair and he wears it in ponytail style during games and practices to keep the hair out of his face. He’s been growing his hair out the past three years and fans often make fun of his ``man bun’’ hairstyle.
As for Payton, he first started growing his hair out along with his teammates before his senior season of high school. The group promised not to cut their hair until the team lost and they reached the state semifinals in Louisiana before dropping a game.
Payton liked the hairstyle and kept it all throughout college and the NBA. This season, he’s grown it out even longer and higher and often it flops backward as he streaks up the court on fastbreaks. Payton said he just chuckles at some of the remarks made by fans.
``Everyone loves `The Weeknd’ joke,’’ Payton said, referring to the chart-topping pop singer. ``I don’t really think I look like `The Weeknd.’ I’ve heard a lot of stuff and I get mixed reactions – some good ones and some bad ones.’’
Payton’s unique hairstyle also comes at a cost, he said. ``People tell me all the time, `You can’t hide with that hair.’ But it is what it is and it’s cool with me,’’ he said.
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