Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

Orlando Magic have a few players ready to bid for All-Star berths

By Joe Buckley

ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 6: Aaron Gordon #00, Nikola Vucevic #9, and Evan Fournier #10 of the Orlando Magic look on during game against the Atlanta Hawks on December 6, 2017 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 6: Aaron Gordon #00, Nikola Vucevic #9, and Evan Fournier #10 of the Orlando Magic look on during game against the Atlanta Hawks on December 6, 2017 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Aaron Gordon, Orlando Magic
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 3: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic drives to the basket against the New York Knicks on April 3, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Right Now

Aaron Gordon’s game is finally starting to catch up to his dunks.

Consider his arc a much-lower version of Blake Griffin’s. Both came on the scene with dunks in hand and then had to wait a while for the rest of their skills to catch up.

At the beginning of last season, Aaron Gordon wanted to
show off what he could truly do. Finally in the right position, and given the right responsibilities, Gordon started off on a tear.

After going high with 41 points in the second game of the season, Gordon displayed concrete consistency during the next two months, quieting a major previous concern. He began to look like a fully developed player after struggling to find his fit earlier in his career.

The most noticeable improvement was in his perimeter shot. Now able to combine 39.8 percent 3-point shooting in November with his already documented finishing ability, Gordon took over as the Magic’s main man.

Unfortunately, injuries soon slowed the rise.

First, an ankle, then concussion, a calf strain, a hip injury, another concussion and then a second calf strain all took the air out of Gordon’s wings. Though he was able to finish the season on the court with career-highs across the board, the momentum had stalled somewhat.

It is no coincidence that both the team and the player started high and finished oh so low.

Fast forward to this season though, and Gordon is looking good even if the team is not.

He is healthy, hungry and, most importantly, has the opportunity. Gordon will have the ball in his hands and the Magic appear set to hand the keys over to him.

The Magic will have the East to compete with. Much has been written on the most wide-open conference in memory, and that counts as much for all-star spots as it does for playoffs.

In terms of forwards, LeBron James leaves a huge vacuum at the position. Yes, it has been hastily filled by Kahwi Leonard. But who knows where he will be by the halfway point? The forwards of the East will look familiar — Al Horford, Giannis Antetokounmpo and perhaps Ben Simmons will join.

Whoever turns up, there is no denying this is the best chance Gordon will likely ever get. The young’uns will catch up, the East will bounce back, Antetokounmpo’s arms will likely grow even longer.

The time to send dunk contests into the second sentence of an Aaron Gordon paragraph is right now.