It’s been a long time since going to Ball Arena for a basketball game. The last time was late April. There was a different feel then, and very little residual feeling of what happened at the end of last season in Sunday night’s preseason game.
The Denver Nuggets won vs the Chicago Bulls, and though the final score doesn’t really matter, the way the game unfolded does in a way. Again, it’s preseason, but hear me out.
Aaron Gordon absolutely put his foot down and established his presence immediately and often. He finished with 25 points on 9-of-12 from the field, going to work against Bulls rookie forward Caleb Wilson. The rookie did go back at Gordon, something Bulls fans will surely be excited to see, but this game, and much of the preseason, has been about Gordon doing his thing.
Everyone in the arena could see what a difference a healthy Aaron Gordon could make, especially head coach David Adelman, who noted Gordon’s explosiveness looked better than the previous 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.”
“To me, it feels normal,” Nikola Jokic said of Gordon getting back to form. “I feel like he’s in shape, he’s healthy, so I think he feels normal.”
The way Gordon approached this one, using his physicality around the rim to establish a seal, attack in transition against an unprepared defense, felt like the Gordon of old. This was the version in 2023 that performed offensive like a wrecking ball, and anyone unfortunate enough to stand in his way was liable to get dunked on.
But the younger, hyper-athletic version of Gordon has added the skill level of a more refined, fully-seasoned veteran. Gordon shot 3-of-4 from three-point range and 4-of-5 from the free throw line. Over the last two to three years, Gordon has turned himself into one of the most skilled, versatile shooters in the NBA, hitting pull-up three-pointers, stepback jumpers, and turnaround fadeaways in just this preseason game alone.
Cam Johnson sees it.
“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 level of stress was something the Minnesota Timberwolves simply didn’t feel last year. Gordon played in three of those games, but he was clearly laboring and was unable to complete the series. It’s one of the reasons why the Nuggets simply chose to run back their starting unit from last season: Aaron Gordon is the stress test for opposing teams.
Because while Nikola Jokic is the engine, Jamal Murray is the spark, and both Cam Johnson and Christian Braun help things run smoother, Aaron Gordon has always been the heart. When he’s out there and playing well, the Nuggets just work better. There’s an inexplicable quality to it, but trying to explain all of the positive qualities Aaron Gordon brings to the team is a tough prospect anyway.
What’s clear is this: Aaron Gordon is essential to the Nuggets hopes in 2026-27, and that’s what makes it so valuable that he’s playing such great basketball already.
Other Nuggets-Bulls notes
Nikola Jokic achieved a triple-double in the third quarter of this one. The Chicago Bulls played small and took advantage of Jokic’s lack of perimeter defense impact, but they had absolutely nothing for Jokic on the other end. It was an easy triple-double for Jokic. Cam Johnson is nearly as ready to go as Aaron Gordon. Johnson shot 4-of-5 from three and was aggressive hunting his opportunities. Johnson on his comfort in the Nuggets system: “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 appears to be a lock in Denver’s rotation. He has appeared at the same time or immediately after the sixth man DeMar DeRozan in all three preseason contests without fail. Marvin Bagley III sat out due to minor discomfort, but it was mostly just a rest day for him. He’s fine. Zeke Nnaji was the initial backup center in his place, and Denver’s bench lineup was subpar. Spencer Jones remains out. No word on if he will return for the Los Angeles trip this week. Bryce Hopkins and DaRon Holmes II each scored in double-digits. Hopkins got some run with the starters, second unit, and third unit and received some praise from Adelman and others.Aaron Gordon shines, Denver Nuggets starters show progress in preseason win vs Chicago Mile High Sports.
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