Orlando Magic: 2017-18 player grades for Aaron Gordon
By Luke Duffy
Final grade
It is easy to say Gordon was the best of a mostly bad bunch this season, because unfortunately, that is true. But that would also be doing a disservice to the genuine step up in play that Gordon brought on a near nightly basis, especially offensively.
The team ranked 21st in scoring at 96.2 points per game, and it would’ve been a lot worse without Gordon around. Better still, he excites the crowd in ways no other player on this roster can — no easy feat when you consider how poor they were to watch this season.
Not surprising to hear that the Magic had the second lowest television ratings in the league considering this is what most Orlando fans want to do while watching a game.... pic.twitter.com/UNMHlhrtaB
— Orlando Pinstriped Post (@OPPMagicBlog) April 26, 2018
In what was essentially a contract year, Gordon stepped up and looked like the clear choice as the player for this franchise to build around.
There’s still work to do for sure, and the only concern would be that he gets paid and then takes his foot off the gas, but the team needs him and all that he can do.
Niggling injuries need to become a thing of the past (the Magic fired their athletic staff as well, which may help in this area), and Gordon needs to commit more to the defensive side of his game.
But had he not been around, this season would have been a whole lot bleaker. It’s tough to imagine, but it shows his importance to the team and also how much he grew in 2017-18.
Next: Full two-round 2018 NBA Mock Draft
Grade: B