The Denver Nuggets’ season may not have begun as planned, but Aaron Gordon’s breathtaking night was the clear silver lining in their season-opening loss.
Gordon hit 10 of his 11 three-point attempts on the evening en route to scoring a career-high 50 points in Denver’s 137-131 overtime loss to the Golden State Warriors. He also hit all six of his free throw attempts and added eight rebounds, two assists, and a block.
What makes Gordon’s performance all the more impressive is that the majority of his baskets came within the flow of the Nuggets’ offense and off assists–Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray both had 10 apiece on the evening. Unselfishness has become second nature for Denver since Jokic’s emergence a decade ago and this helped fuel Gordon’s special night.
The 30-year-old Gordon is the sixth player to score 50 or more points in a season opener, joining an elite list of players that includes only Michael Jordan (Twice), Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, Elgin Baylor, and Wilt Chamberlain. He also set a new Nuggets franchise record for points in a season opener, surpassing Alex English’s 47 points in 1985.
Gordon also joins the ranks of a long list of “random” players who have put up 50-point games that includes cult heroes such as Corey Brewer, Malachi Flynn, and Tony Delk
The evolution of Gordon into a legitimate three-point threat is one of the most surprising developments in the NBA in recent years as he has gone from a 32.3% three-point shooter during his six and a half seasons with the Orlando Magic into a legitimate long range threat.
Last season, Gordon made 43.6% of his three-pointers–significantly above the league average of 34.9%. If this opening game is any indication, the trend should continue this season and Gordon’s strong shooting last year was by no means a fluke.
Once known primarily for his leaping ability, Gordon has evolved into one of the league’s most complete complementary pieces. If Denver starts fast and he stays healthy, he should be firmly in the NBA All-Star conversation this season. He’s never been selected to an All-Star team, but his ever-expanding impact for this Nuggets team makes him harder and harder for voters to ignore.
Gordon’s fate is in his hands as Denver’s ceiling as a team is highly dependent on how well he plays. The duo of Jokic and Murray give the team one of the highest floors in the league, but if this team is to become one of the best this season, Gordon must literally play the best basketball of his career to elevate this team.
The new season is off to a strong start for Gordon and if this opening game is any indication, this is going to be one to remember and likely his best one yet.
