Aaron Gordon wasted no time reminding everybody what a healthy version of him looks like.
In Denver’s preseason win over the Chicago Bulls on Sunday night at Ball Arena, Gordon came out aggressive, physical and in control, finishing with 25 points on 9-of-12 shooting. He kept going at Bulls rookie forward Caleb Wilson, and even with Wilson answering back at times, Gordon dictated the action early and often.
The bigger picture for the Nuggets was even more encouraging than the box score. Head coach David Adelman said Gordon’s burst and explosiveness have looked better than they did last season.
“I think there were times last year when Aaron felt like he was trying to protect himself in situations,” Adelman shared. “He’d rather use his body than use his athleticism and jump to get the ball. But seeing it more and more, there’s more confidence to go do that.”
Nikola Jokic saw the same thing.
“To me, it feels normal,” Jokic said of Gordon getting back to form. “I feel like he’s in shape, he’s healthy, so I think he feels normal.”
That’s the version Denver has been waiting to see - Gordon sealing defenders inside, flying into transition chances before the defense could get set, and playing with the force that made him such a problem in 2023. But there’s more polish to his game now too. Gordon knocked down 3-of-4 from deep and 4-of-5 at the line, and this preseason alone he has shown a fuller offensive package with pull-up threes, stepbacks and turnaround fadeaways.
Cam Johnson has noticed the effect Gordon has on a defense.
“He’s able to dominate certain aspects of the game, and you can see how much it stresses the other teams out,” Johnson shared postgame. “So to see him running around, looking healthy and playing hard is huge for us.”
That kind of stress was missing against the Minnesota Timberwolves last year, when Gordon appeared in three games but clearly wasn’t right and couldn’t finish the series. Denver’s starting group came back together for a reason, and Gordon is a huge part of it. Jokic may be the engine and Jamal Murray the spark, while Johnson and Christian Braun help everything hum along, but Gordon is the piece that makes the whole thing feel complete.
What he does doesn’t always fit neatly into a stat line, but the effect is obvious. When Gordon is playing like this, the Nuggets just look different.
And Gordon wasn’t the only Nuggets starter flashing signs of readiness.
Jokic had a triple-double by the third quarter, and Chicago’s small-ball approach didn’t do much to slow him down on offense. The Bulls tried to exploit his impact at the perimeter, but they had no answer for him at the other end. It was a comfortable triple-double for Jokic.
Johnson was sharp too, going 4-of-5 from three and staying aggressive as he hunted his spots. He also explained that settling into Denver’s system has started to come naturally.
“It’s slowing down. I think that’s the main thing.
It slowed down at one point last year where something I’ve been doing for so long, last year, for some reason, beginning of the season, it just came so fast. So to slow it down is helpful, and it makes me feel like I can see and read and play after that.”
Julian Strawther also looks like he’s got a real grip on the rotation. He has appeared at the same time or immediately after sixth man DeMar DeRozan in all three preseason games.
There were some absences and uneven bench minutes as well. Marvin Bagley III sat out with minor discomfort, though it was mostly a rest day and he’s fine.
Zeke Nnaji got the first backup-center look in his place, and Denver’s bench group was subpar. Spencer Jones remained out, and there was no word on whether he’ll be available for the Los Angeles trip this week.
In Other News...
Nuggets Just Sent A Clear Message About Their Final Roster Spot
The Nuggets have made their first clear roster call of the preseason, waiving guard Lonnie Walker IV after bringing him in on a non-guaranteed training camp deal this offseason. Walker got into three preseason games, but Denver ultimately decided not to carry him into the regular season, instead leaning toward the guards already on two-way contracts as it sorted out the back end of the roster.
For a team that has spent camp sorting through its depth options, the move leaves one open spot heading into the regular season and keeps the door cracked for another addition down the line. It also suggests Denver is comfortable with the way its guard rotation is shaping up for now, even as the final piece of the roster remains unresolved. [Read more 🡒]
DaRon Holmes Faces A Nuggets Role Crunch He Didn't Expect
DaRon Holmes arrived in Nuggets camp with a chance to carve out a useful role after missing time while recovering from an Achilles injury, but the early read on his spot in the rotation has not made things any easier. Denver has been evaluating the 24-year-old big man as part of a crowded frontcourt, and his preseason work so far has not yet separated him from the pack behind the teams established reserve options.
With the big-man rotation already tight, Holmes is fighting for every available minute, and his path may be more complicated than it first looked. The remaining preseason games now loom as an important stretch for him, because Denvers depth up front means his best chance to stick could come from showing he can handle whatever role the Nuggets need, even if it is not the one he may have expected. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Preseason Rotation Is Revealing David Adelmans Early Trust Circle
Three preseason games have already given David Adelman a clearer look at where his early trust is landing, and the Nuggets coach has not been shy about mixing and matching as he sorts out the rotation. The minutes distribution has started to tell a story, with a handful of players getting a longer runway than the rest while others are still trying to work their way into the mix.
Tyus Jones, Julian Strawther, Marvin Bagley III and Alpha Diallo have all been among the players seeing the most meaningful time, which is usually a pretty good indicator of where a coachs confidence sits this time of year. The other side of that equation is just as interesting, though, because some Nuggets are still getting their chances later in games, and Spencer Jones has yet to appear in preseason at all. [Read more 🡒]