Despite the focus on Nikola Jokic’s MVP performance and the return of Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon emerges as the Nuggets’ unheralded standout of the season.

With Murray and Porter requiring time to readjust to NBA play, Gordon faced increased pressure to contribute early in the season. Despite this, Gordon has maintained his performance level without any decline as the season progresses.

Currently, Gordon is enjoying the best season of his career, averaging 16.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game with an impressive field goal percentage of 59.3%, contributing to Denver’s rise as the top seed in the Western Conference. While Gordon’s per-game statistics may not differ significantly from his career averages, his heightened efficiency has transformed him into a more impactful player this season. As Gordon continues to excel with the Nuggets, his teammate Jokic took a moment to elucidate why he believes Gordon is experiencing a career-high performance in Denver at present.

Gordon has been a rather frustrating player throughout his career. He had a lot of promise, but he constantly made things more difficult for himself than necessary. That’s a significant reason why the Orlando Magic opted to part ways with Gordon and acquire something in return by trading him to the Nuggets.

Since joining Denver, Gordon’s playing style has undergone significant improvement. He has eliminated many of the unnecessary shots that were characteristic of his earlier career, resulting in benefits not only for himself but also for the Nuggets’ overall offense. While it is undoubtedly advantageous to play alongside Jokic, Gordon has taken the necessary steps to refine his game with Denver this season, yielding promising results.