Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

Aaron Gordon works out at Draymond Green’s “Grind Week”

By Philip Rossman-Reich

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 20: Aaron Gordon #55 of the USA Basketball Mens Select Team handles the basketball against Draymond Green #14 of the USA Basketball Men's National Team during practice on July 20, 2016 at Mendenhall Center on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 20: Aaron Gordon #55 of the USA Basketball Mens Select Team handles the basketball against Draymond Green #14 of the USA Basketball Men's National Team during practice on July 20, 2016 at Mendenhall Center on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Aaron Gordon is not resting at all this offseason. He went to Oakland to participate in Draymond Green‘s “Grind Week” as he prepares for the season.

NBA players are off doing their own things this time of year.

August is the final push before the season begins. The last chance to get some vacation time in and the last chance to get that last little bit of improvement before the season starts.

Players will start trickling back into Orlando for good around Labor Day when they will start working out and playing together in the Orlando Magic’s practice facility in Amway Center. That is not to say there are not players in town already, but everyone is still off enjoying their summer.

Few players have had a summer quite like Aaron Gordon.

He secured a new four-year contract quickly ending his free agency. This coming off a career year where he averaged 17.6 points per game and shot 33.6 percent from beyond the arc. He had a fantastic year that seems to suggest there is plenty more to come from him.

On top of his film debut in Uncle Drew, Gordon has kept himself plenty busy. And all the while, he has worked to improve his game. Fans will have to wait to see those until the preseason starts in October and the regular season a few weeks after that.

Gordon is putting in his work as he splits his time between Orlando and his home in California.

This past week, Gordon was in Oakland participating in Draymond Green’s “Grind Week.”

As Marc Spears of The Undefeated details, it is a week of workouts, camaraderie and high-level pickup games for players in the league. Green wanted to pay it forward and create a space for players to get better and play against each other while talking and learning from each other. He credits Mo Williams and some of his young player camps for helping him learn the NBA and find his place.

Gordon took a different approach to the week. It was about getting better but also learning a lot from Green.

"“Draymond is a champion,” Aaron Gordon told The Undefeated. “He’s been around championship culture. I wanted to see what it was like to be around somebody that has rings. It’s high-level basketball here. A lot of pros are here.”"

Gordon is getting plenty of work in during the week. Magic fans already know he is a tireless worker and takes improving pretty seriously in the offseason. This was an opportunity to be around other pros and get his work in with them.

The video from “Grind Week” is pretty exciting to see:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmXJXxlAQoT/?taken-by=youngheirgordon

Of course, you are not going to make a ton of conclusions off of some quick cuts and highlights. The proof of Gordon’s improvements will come on the floor when the season starts.

But if Gordon can take the leap that he took last summer to become a primary scoring option, he certainly can take another leap to become more consistent. And perhaps even an All-Star in a wide-open Eastern Conference.

That goal might depend on Gordon helping take his team into Playoff contention for more than 12 games.

Next. Orlando Magic release 2019 schedule. dark

Again only time will tell. But it is clear Gordon is putting in his work and trying to learn as much as he can from veterans while preparing himself for the Magic’s upcoming season.