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The best basketball of Aaron Gordon’s life has a chance to yield something he’s never attained throughout his nine years in the NBA: an All-Star bid.
Gordon, as evidenced by his stunning Christmas Day poster dunk over Landry Shamet, still has the brute athleticism that helped make him the No. 4 overall pick in 2014. But nearly a decade later, Gordon’s game has aged like a California Cabernet.
His 17.5 points per game ties his career-high. His 39% shooting from 3-point range is, easily, the best he’s ever shot from long range. Behind that number is confidence borne from endless hours in the gym this past offseason. One team official said Gordon’s a mainstay on the court, both before and after official practices.
But what’s separating Gordon throughout the first third of the regular season is his stunning efficiency. Gordon’s a career 47% shooter from the field. This season, he’s finishing over 61% of his looks.
To put that number in context, Gordon, a power forward, is on pace with the most efficient centers in basketball. Nikola Jokic is shooting nearly 62% this season, as are both Domantas Sabonis and DeAndre Ayton. Assuming Jokic is a lock to start the All-Star Game, the latter two are legitimate competition for Gordon’s spot.
When you compare Gordon to the rest of the forwards in the Western Conference, he’s been more efficient than both Anthony Davis (59%) and Zion Williamson (60%). On two-pointers, Gordon’s making 68% of his looks; Williamson, a physical force the NBA hasn’t seen since Shaq, is making 62% on such shots.
After erupting for seven dunks on Christmas, Gordon’s also among the league leaders in that category, too.
Last season, injuries to Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray mandated Gordon shoulder more of the offensive burden. Gordon did what he could to help supplement Jokic’s second MVP campaign. His scoring was out of necessity and not necessarily in rhythm. This season is an example of what can happen when a player’s skills match his environment. Gordon, as the third or fourth option in Denver’s dazzling offense, is playing contained, dominant basketball.
Having grasped the attention Jokic absorbs from opposing defenses, Gordon is eating off his plate. That’s not in a selfish way, either. Jokic, indifferent to his own numbers, is more than happy to indulge an intelligent cutter.
Unsurprisingly, no Nuggets player gets more assists per game from Jokic than Gordon. The two have a symbiotic partnership where Gordon has earned the right to benefit from all of Jokic’s double teams. The partnership, occasionally yielding 4 or 5 pick-and-rolls, has become a basketball romance. And that’s to say nothing of Gordon’s reliable defense.
Gordon’s All-Star fate is going to be up to the NBA coaches. Media, players and fans combine to vote on the starters, whereas the coaches vote on reserves. In the West, LeBron James, Williamson and Jokic are the likely frontcourt starters. Beyond that, coaches vote on two backcourt and three frontcourt players, in addition to two extra spots. At minimum, there are three spots, and at maximum, there are five bids for the taking.
Gordon’s up against LA’s Paul George, Utah’s Lauri Markkanen, Portland’s Jerami Grant, Sacramento’s Sabonis and Phoenix’s Ayton. When it comes to the position-less spot, which it could come down to, Kings guard De’Aaron Fox has an argument to be an All-Star as well.
But if winning matters — just check the current standings — Gordon’s got as compelling a case as any of them.
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