Aaron Gordon is finding his place in the NBA

Gordon’s niche

The first time the Magic played the Houston Rockets this season, Gordon showed that he does not only have the physical tools to be a good defensive player, but that he has the will and intelligence to become elite.

Against multiple MVP candidates this year, including the Rockets’ James Harden, Gordon has proven he has IQ and discipline beyond his years. His work against Harden specifically is a great case study in the improvements he has made.

The infamously crafty guard just could not get it going the first night they met, as he finished 5 for 15 from the floor and 0 for 8 from three. Admittedly, Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder had taken his Rockets right down to the wire the night before so Harden’s legs might not have been at their freshest.

But, fatigue alone does not account for Harden having arguably his worst game of the season.

When they met again on Feb. 7, Gordon had to leave early because of an injury — a bone bruise in his foot that seemed to be a recurring problem for some time. Up to that point, he had been defending Harden just as well.

Harden leads the league in free throw attempts per game, at around 11. Baiting defenders into contact, especially beyond the three-point line, is a huge part of his game. Even good defenders, if they aren’t disciplined enough, often fall victim to his shrewd flailing of limbs.

Over one and a half games, Gordon fouled him only once. That says a lot about the amount of brains and deliberation he puts into his defense.

In the video below, Gordon uses his length to trap Harden in the corner while keeping his hands up and back to avoid a foul. He stays balanced and smothers Harden without so much as sniffing contact.

Gordon stays completely upright when he contests the shot and keeps his balance even after the release. In doing so, he forces Harden to arc the shot over his towering length without giving him a chance to manipulate a shooting foul.

"“Just keeping my hands out of the cookie jar – that’s the main thing,” Gordon said to OrlandoMagic.com writer John Denton on defending Harden. “When you’re in a legal guarding positioning with the arm bar, he’ll make that illegal by sweeping through and using his forearm to draw fouls. I just kept my hands out of the way, (make him) try to finish over the top and use my physicality to my advantage.”"

The first time he faced DeMar DeRozan this season, DeRozan scored 31. The second time, he went 6 for 18 from the field for 22 points (only two of the six fouls DeRozan drew were from Gordon).

On the play below, Gordon stays right on him, and without getting his hands caught in the aforementioned cookie jar, he forces Derozan into an off-balance shot.

If you did not know any better you might have thought there were magnets connecting the two’s limbs together. Gordon’s reactions were that quick.

Plenty of prospects come into the league with all the physical tools — length, strength, speed, lateral quickness — to be great defenders. What many of them fail to develop is the desire, the IQ, and the instincts necessary to be great defenders. Gordon is displaying all those intangibles.