Orlando Magic: This is Aaron Gordon’s moment to shine

The Orlando Magic look certain to make the playoffs, but what seed they snag and how they will do in the postseason will depend on Aaron Gordon.

The Orlando Magic have been an improved outfit since returning from the All-Star break. Offensively they have come to life, while defensively they have shown more consistency in playing at a high level on that end to lock down opponents.

Aaron Gordon has been a central figure for the Magic during this time. After being robbed of his moment of glory in Chicago at the Dunk Contest during All-Star Weekend, Gordon looked like a reinvigorated and snubbed figure, and it showed in his play for the team. He was the best player on the roster as they went 3-1 in their first four games back, being nominated for the Eastern Conference player of the week in the process.

That the Magic slumped to a bad home loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday only added to the fact that Gordon is becoming indispensable for the organization. After years of false starts and trade rumors around Gordon, we have now reached the point where it is unquestionably his time to shine.

It wasn’t always this way, however, and in fact to start this season Gordon’s personal numbers regressed some on last season. But the 14.4 points (as opposed to 16 last season) and 3.5 assists (3.7 last year) he is averaging have come within the flow of the team and in a more consistent manner.

There’s the other side to Gordon though. The one he is going to have to conquer once and for all if he is to be the Magic’s playoff savior. His consistency has always been something he has struggled with. Great games have often been followed by underwhelming ones, and when an opportunity has presented itself to establish himself as the guy, it has passed him by.

We saw this on Wednesday when the Magic lost a tough one to the Miami Heat, 116-113. Gordon’s stat line on the night? 11 points, 9 assists and 6 rebounds. So Gordon-esque. Just when you think he’s turned a corner, he is forced to sit out a game or miss even more time than that and it throws off his rhythm.

What is different as the Magic come down the stretch of this regular season is where Gordon is in his career right now, versus who is around him. At 24, but in his sixth season, Gordon is a young veteran. He is coming into the peak of his powers, and the aforementioned balls up at All-Star Weekend will only spur him on.

More from Orlando Magic

• The most exciting NBA team you won’t see on national TV this season
• 5 NBA teams on the rise that will surprise everyone in 2023-24
• Ranking the 10 championship-less NBA teams by closeness to title
• Orlando Magic draft odds: What are the chances of landing the #1 pick?
• Franz Wagner has smashed the sophomore slump for the Orlando Magic

Although the Orlando Magic have been poor for much of Gordon’s time on the roster, they have always had somebody like a Nikola Vucevic to prop them up. A big stats guy who, last season at least, was able to turn that into winning for the franchise. Vucevic was an All-Star too, and it was thought then that Gordon, who had the best season of his career, would fit in around that.

Some people just aren’t meant to be the number one guy. That’s ok, Scottie Pippen won six rings too. Vucevic was brought back for $100 million last summer, so he is going nowhere. Jonathan Isaac was meant to be the future of the team. Markelle Fultz was supposed to continue to improve the way that he has.

Only this season hasn’t gone like that. Vucevic has regressed. Isaac may not play again during the regular season after sustaining a knee injury that thankfully was not as bad as first feared. Fultz certainly has his moments, and the Magic are lucky to have him, but sometimes it shows that he’s played less than 100 career games in the NBA.

All of this set conspired for Gordon to finally seize the mantle of the Orlando Magic’s best player. The guy who was going to put the team on his back, and lead them back to the playoffs again. Earlier in the season, we saw this from time to time, but what happened and the dunk contest lit a fire under him. He was angry, and it was exactly what the organization needed.

Another missed game has stalled that momentum, but Gordon will be back before long to take over as their best player. The 31.3 percent he is shooting from deep this season is not good enough, and a significant drop-off on the 34.9 percent of a year ago, while actually taking fewer attempts per game (4.4 last year, compared to 4 this time out).

Yet when you watch him play, he seems to make big shots from deep when he really needs to. The form is much improved compared to when he entered the league. Defensively he continues to make a difference and is still the best two-way player that the Orlando Magic have, having established this last season.

But a recent purple patch in their offensive play especially could be partly contributed to Gordon. Something that has not always been the case. He looked calm, in control of the situation. Of games. Finding his groove after years of uneven play, surrounded by uncertainty.

We are about to witness Aaron Gordon’s finest moment, but in typical fashion, it is just taking a bit longer to arrive. Much like the player himself. You don’t put yourself in the running for player of the week awards if progression is not being made. Seasons highs will be beaten. Career highs set. It’s Gordon’s time to shine. Just be patient.