Orlando Magic: Grading Aaron Gordon’s 2019-20 NBA season

Aaron Gordon’s strengths

If there’s one thing that Gordon has really improved upon in recent seasons, it is his ability as a defender. Given that playing well on that side of the ball is talked about for only a handful of players, the Kawhi Leonards of the world, what Gordon does on that end flies under the radar.

Nevertheless he is the team’s best defender, and routinely has to guard an opponent’s best player on any given night. This doesn’t always show up in the numbers, as the defensive rating of 109.2 the Magic had during the regular season (11th in the league) was right around the same number when Gordon was on the court (109.7).

But the Magic under head coach Steve Clifford have made high level defending a priority. To that end Gordon has completely bought in, and has no issues giving up some points in order to chase opponents around the court. He remains a big and athletic guy, giving most opposition players, both guards and forwards, trouble.

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As the second or third best player on the roster, Gordon provides the kind of numbers that you would typically expect from a guy in his position. 14.4 points and 7.7 rebounds per game are not especially impressive and they are down on career highs of previous seasons. But when Nikola Vucevic and Evan Fournier have it going offensively, this can be enough.

Gordon is somehow only 24, but in recent years it has become apparent that a superstar type of player does not seem to be his ceiling. So accepting his role on this team and playing hard within the framework of what coach Clifford wants, both of which Gordon does, is a strength that the organization needs as it looks to fill out all its roles in the coming years to climb back to contention.