Aaron Gordon taking steps to continue growth for Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic have looked impressive early in the season. Aaron Gordon looks like a different player on the boards inside of the paint and is a big reason why.

Will the real Aaron Gordon please stand up?

It has been a long time coming but the fifth-year power forward has stepped up his defensive game and placed himself into rare territory. Consistent double-double territory.

Coming into the 2014 NBA Draft, the Orlando Magic executives thought Gordon could potentially become that kind of guy. Their ultimate hope is he can become the 20 points-per-game and 10 rebounds-per-game kind of guy on a nightly basis.

They saw a player who was a still a raw offensive player, feasting mostly on transition opportunities in the open court and putbacks as his shot continued to develop. The Magic saw an uber-athlete who can put all those pieces together all while providing a strong defensive presence.

But Gordon has slowly worked to expand his full game. He has added a more consistent 3-point shot and varied his offensive skills. His defense slipped some but it was all still there.

There is a small sample and Gordon’s play is still somewhat inconsistent. But Gordon seems like he is putting all those pieces together.

Currently, Gordon is averaging 16.2 points per game and 9.0 rebounds per game with 2.4 assists per game. His scoring is a bit down from last year, but his other numbers — including his 54.1 percent effective field goal percentage and 40.0 percent mark from beyond the arc are up.

That is not terrible but it is not quite star level despite those seeming improvements. The Magic are hoping Gordon can put up bigger numbers to become a key piece to taking the Magic to the next step — the Playoffs and beyond.

Injuries have certainly slowed some of Gordon’s development. Last year was Gordon’s first fully healthy training camp since turning pro and the results were clear — career highs with 17.6 points per game and 7.9 rebounds per game. But even then injuries derailed him, disrupting his rhythm and limiting him to 58 games. That time away from the court with various injuries — including a concussion and a shin contusion — are part of Gordon’s inefficient end to the season.

Now is the time to see who Gordon really is.

Gordon is the most athletic power forward in the league. But the question remains with Gordon: Does athleticism equal quality of a player?

Although he has worked diligently on his perimeter shooting, Gordon needs to become an all-around player to expand his game for this Magic team to reach its potential.

The biggest question facing Gordon this year is how does he change the narrative from being known as the runner-up in the 2016 Dunk Contest to becoming one of the few power forwards in the NBA who can average a double-double? How does he expand his game and take it to another level? And then all in a way that helps his team.

Orlando Magic

His attention to detail on the defensive end has to be on an all-time high to be mentioned as a double-double power forward. There are eight power forwards in the NBA who are currently averaging a double-double — Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Love, Anthony Davis, LaMarcus Aldridge, Domantas Sabonis, Blake Griffin, Nikola Mirotic and Bobby Portis.

A double-double is not a direct measure of production. But it is a statement of his activity in some respects. It is not something to be ignored. Gordon has been a terror on the glass for most of this season but has seen his rebounds drop off the last two games. But his 7.2 percent offensive rebound rate shows how active he is on the glass. It is, at least, an easy way for him to get baskets and keep possessions alive.

If Aaron Gordon can somehow put his name among these eight double-double machines then the Magic will continue to grow as a defensive team and eliminate second-chance points from opponents. It may seem simple but those points add up, and in a close game, sometimes those second-chance points are the difference between winning and losing basketball games.

So how does Gordon average a double-double?

First, he has to stay healthy for the entire season. Gordon has struggled to stay healthy through offseasons and then taken small knocks throughout the season. He played 80 games in 2017, but that was largely out of position. Last year’s injury setbacks certainly blunted some of his growth and development. And his focus offensively may have caused his defensive attention to wane.

Secondly, he needs to hustle on every defensive possession, get easy buckets by running with purpose on the break and crash the glass more often on the offensive side of the ball.

Coach Steve Clifford has praised Aaron Gordon’s defense early in the season. His efforts on that end are clearly noted. Among the Magic’s starters the team has the best defensive rating with Gordon on the floor, giving up 101.8 points per 100 possessions with him on the floor. Overall, that is the second-best mark on the team. A lot of that is a product of playing with the defensively strong second unit.

There are signs Gordon is taking steps to be better defensively. The stats are still waiting to catch up in this early phase of the season.

And lastly, he needs to be able to convert when presented the opportunity for an and-one. If he can draw fouls and improve on his free throw percentage then he may become a threat on the break like none other.

So far this year, Gordon is averaging 4.8 free throw attempts per game. If he keeps on that pace, it would be a career high.

Gordon seems like he is taking another step so far this year. It is promising to watch him early this season. But Gordon still has to keep working and improving to maintain these gains and make an impact this year.