Imagine how Aaron Gordon, once the Orlando Magic’s high-flying star, was standing at the crossroads of his career in 2021. He had options, lots of them. But ultimately, he decided to join forces with Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray over at the Denver Nuggets. What a move, right?

Back in Orlando, Gordon was the main man, the star attraction. But here’s the twist: when it was time to make a move, Gordon had a decision to make. Be the main guy or join a squad where his skills would shine? He chose the latter. Gordon knew he had to adjust, to maybe even take a step back from the limelight, but hey, he was ready for that.

“I was a little bit unsure. It was between Portland with Dame, Denver, Boston, and Houston. Houston said they’d give me the keys. They were like, ‘We’ll let you play, you know what I mean? See you expand your game.’ Boston would’ve been cool with the other two dogs and boys, while Denver just felt like the perfect fit,” Gordon said in a recent appearance on the Knuckleheads podcast with Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles.

Gordon’s Nuggets stint? It’s like a throwback to his college days at the University of Arizona. Remember him playing both the small and power forward positions? That’s the versatility Denver craved. They needed a defensive ace, someone to guard the other team’s stars, a glue guy with timely scoring, who could bring those priceless intangibles to the table. Gordon was like, “That works for me man!”

Sure, joining the Nuggets meant Gordon wouldn’t be the focal point. But guess what? It worked wonders! Since his arrival in March 2021, he’s been nothing short of impressive. We’re talking averages of 14.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 30.5 minutes over 200 games with the Nuggets since 2020 (as of January 9).

And he played a crucial role in last year’s NBA Finals against the Heat, averaging 14 points, 7.4 rebounds and three assists in 35.6 minutes over five games, helping the Nuggets win the first NBA Championship in franchise history. Gordon even led the Nuggets with 27 points, seven rebounds, and six assists in a crucial 108-95 Game 4 win in Miami on June 9.

But hold up, it’s not just about numbers. Gordon’s true value? It’s not something you’ll find in the stat sheets. It’s his defensive prowess, his knack for cutting through defenses, and being that missing piece to help the Nuggets contend. The best part? Gordon doesn’t have to be the hero every night, and he’s totally cool with that.

So, there you have it. Aaron Gordon’s journey from being the Orlando Magic’s poster boy to becoming an essential cog in the Denver Nuggets’ machine. It’s about finding where you fit, playing to your strengths, and sometimes, being okay with not being in the spotlight. Gordon’s story and success is a testament to that, and let’s be real, it seems to be working out just fine for him and the reigning, defending NBA champions.