Uncaging Aaron Gordon

Aaron Gordon is still a bundle of untapped potential. He is beginning to scratch the surface now that he is back in the starting lineup and finding his fit.

Aaron Gordon is 20 years old. Any analysis of his game has to start there. It serves as a reminder of just the unbounded potential Gordon has and how potential energy turning into kinetic energy takes time.

When Gordon took the Amway Center practice floor for Summer League and began dazzling with what seemed like physical maturity and good sense with the ball to be a scorer, eyes got wide. The fourth overall pick from the 2014 Draft had that kind of play in him — 21.7 points per game and 11.7 rebounds per game — and it felt pretty real.

Gordon was never going to get that kind of attention or have the ball in his hands that much when he rejoined the main roster. The key was that player was still in there.

The jaw injury he suffered during the summer definitely hurt his development. At his age, that first NBA summer was a critical moment for his development. One that he lost almost completely. It definitely took some time for Gordon to get himself back into basketball shape at the beginning of the season and get into the swing of things. Gordon still remains a huge blank slate.

And it took him a while this season to get his footing under him.

“It’s just the rhythm of the game,” Aaron Gordon said in early January. “The less anxious you are on the floor, it definitely helps you settle down and control what you need to control.”

There was a definite tug-of-war for Gordon as he got used to a new offense and defense all while still trying to figure out who he was as a player. In what is essentially his junior year of college, Gordon had some individual troubles.

His role was a bit inconsistent early in the season. As was his production. His raw ability showed itself in one game and his inexperience the next.

While Gordon is extremely good defensively on the ball, he would sometimes get a little too far away from his help responsibilities, focused too much on the ball. Building up trust was a struggle for him.

Gordon had to learn when to attack and how to fit in.

“I feel like he is winning that battle within himself,” Scott Skiles said. “Because when he is under control, he usually has success. When he is running the floor, and we like his spot-up shot, his defense, his rebounding. He’s got some ability around the rim. He’s an effective player.”

This is the Gordon the Magic wanted to see. And that is what they have seen lately.

Now with what is essentially a full season under his belt, Gordon is starting to show flashes of what he can ultimately be — he said his book has not even started getting written when asked in January. If not incrementally.

What that player has been has been one that rebounds extremely well — at least seven rebounds in all but one of the past seven games, and he was clearly ill for that one game in London. It has been one who holds his responsibility on defense for the most part and can recover quickly when he does stray too far.

Rebounding is where he has really shown his most maturity. A little more than one-fifth of his rebounds are contested rebounds. He is able to use his athleticism to get boards others may not. It added to the frustration of not having him in at the end of the Memphis game Monday.

Gordon said rebounding is about reading angles, using his athleticism and physicality and just wanting it. He feels like this is one way for him to get involved in the offense and help the team.

Gordon has begun to unlock a lot of his talent. Skiles is beginning to see the consistency in his play that has helped him earn minutes.

“Scott is just a little bit more comfortable with me,” Gordon said while the team was in London. “He understands what I’m going to give him every night. That’s defense and rebounding and consistent energy. He’s a little more comfortable with me and I’m a little more comfortable on the floor.”

It was not easy to get to this point. While it seemed inevitable that Gordon would start one day, it took a while for him to build his trust with the new coaching staff. It is hard for a young player to get all the fine details down, especially when he potentially contributes so little on the offensive end.

Gordon’s athleticism showed its flashes but it was a struggle to harness that. His shot is still a work in progress — he is shooting 48.6 percent from the floor and with a 32.8 percent 3-point field goal percentage, his effective field goal percentage has crept above 50 percent.

His turnover rate has also crept down to 11.3 percent. It is still not great, but the Magic have tried to limit when and how he attacks. Gordon too has gotten smarter at when he attacks. He dribbles into traffic less often and pulls up for a nice mid-range jumper that feels comfortable to him.

His field goal attempts are creeping up along with his confidence in his new role.

The “energy plays” will remain his bread and butter. Grabbing offensive rebounds, slashing to the rim  off the ball and getting out in transition will be where he gets most of his offense.

The more Gordon does though, the more confident he becomes. And it is clear that confidence only compounds for him.

It has not been an easy wait for Gordon or for the Magic. He is beginning to put the puzzle pieces together, but still play within what his coaches have asked of him.

“I believe completely in my skills and being able to do everything on the basketball court,” Gordon said. “But you’ve got to stay in the rhythm of the game and do what it takes to help your team win.”

It really seems Gordon has been unleashed now on the NBA. And his real growth can really begin as a quality rotation player (for now).

As Gordon said, it still seems like he is scratching the surface.

Next: Orlando Magic should stay patient as trade deadline approaches

James Plowright contributed to this report.