Aaron Gordon took a step back from his scoring and added a lot to his game elsewhere. His passing was a big part of that and a big part of his evolution.
The anticipation when Aaron Gordon gets the ball is palpable.
Give him some open floor and it is like a runway with a plane ready for takeoff. That is how Aaron Gordon has made his name in the league. His most high-profile moments come from the nightly dunk highlights that he produces.
Gordon has had to work to become a better, more diverse player. Channeling that athleticism has been one of his most difficult tasks.
In 2018, Gordon began to improve his offensive game slowly. His 3-point shot became more consistent and a stronger weapon to use. It helped him explode for 40-point performances. He was one of the team’s top scorers.
And at his age, the Orlando Magic anticipated he would make some significant improvements this season. If anyone would make that long-awaited star turn this year, everyone turned to Gordon to be that guy. They thought his scoring would be what propelled him to the next level.
That did not quite happened this season.
Gordon’s season high in 2019 was 31 points against the New York Knicks in November. Most of that work came in the first quarter too as he got off to an incredible start. It was hardly a year of eye-popping scoring games — he had only six regular season games of 25 points or more after reaching that mark nine times in 2018 including four games of 30 points or more.
His scoring average dropped to 16.0 points per game last year although both his field goal (44.9 percent) and 3-point field goal percentage (34.9 percent) both improved.
Gordon’s season for many was a bit of a mixed bag offensively. He did not become the emerging star many hoped. But it is also hard to say he has had a bad year either. He has grown his game in ways nobody really expected.
To hear his teammates say it, Gordon was a vital cog to the team all year. Not for his scoring, but for his defense and, increasingly, for his ability to move the ball and make plays for others.
It marked a major shift in Gordon’s approach to his game. One that benefited the team.
"“I just want to see everyone in this locker room shine,” Gordon said in January. “Just distributing the ball, making sure everybody else is happy and getting everybody easy shots. I have gotten a little bit of attention from the defense. I’m just getting better and making plays for my teammates.”"
Gordon’s biggest growth last year might very well have been with his passing. He averaged a career-best 3.7 assists per game. Nearly 1.5 assists per game more than the career mark he set in his breakthrough season last year.
Gordon took on more responsibility. That is what comes with experience and leadership.
His passing was one of the best developments of last season. And something he will need to continue to grow for himself and the team.