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Through his first three seasons in the league, Orlando Magic have seen progressive development from forward Aaron Gordon.
During a recent interview with John Denton of Magic.com, the 22-year-old believes that he can become the best player in the league.
Article Continues Below“That’s never why I played the game and not why I play the game (now),’’ Gordon said, referring to the chance to cash in and secure his long-term future. “I trust (Magic President of Basketball Operations) Jeff Weltman and (GM) John Hammond to make the right decision and I’m going to continue to play my game, help my team and improve as a player. They see how hard I work, they see how far my game has come and I’m only 22 (years old).
“My game is going to continue to get better and there’s still no ceiling for me,’’ he added. “I’m looking to be the best in the NBA at some point in my career, so I’m going to continue to improve and continue to help my team get wins.’’
Gordon has shown much progress in his offensive development in the preseason where he is averaging 18.4 points on 53.6 percent shooting from the field and 42.8 percent from beyond the arc with 7.4 rebounds in 23.8 minutes per contest in fives games played. This includes recording a double-figures four times with two 20-point outings and a pair of double-doubles.
The most notable improvement has been his efficiency from three-point range as he's hitting at an effective rate, which is well above his career 28.9 percent mark from that distance. If he can make this a consistent part of his game, it could help him experience a significant jump in his production this upcoming season.
Beyond just his personal aspirations, Gordon is entering a critical campaign as he eligible to ink a lucrative contract extension with Orlando that squarely hinges on his play on the court. There are clearly many motivating factors on the table for the fourth-year forward to become an elite talent in the league.
