Nuggets PF Aaron Gordon Throwing Shade at Magic?
ORLANDO - For the first time in franchise history, the Denver Nuggets are going to the NBA Finals.
It's been a long road for the Nuggets, who have won a playoff series in four of the last five postseasons, but they are four wins away from their first NBA championship.
Many moves have propelled the Nuggets to get where they are, including a 2021 trade with the Orlando Magic, which sent starting power forward Aaron Gordon to Denver. Gordon has shined in this playoff run for the Nuggets, averaging 13 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, including a 22-point performance in Monday's Game 4 win against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Gordon spoke to reporters postgame about his journey to Denver, which may have included a shot against Orlando.
“It’s been a lot of work," Gordon said. "I’m just ecstatic to come to an organization that plays the right way.”
Gordon has only played for two teams in his career, so is he insinuating that the Magic doesn't "play the right way?"
Gordon was rather unhappy in the latter part of his Orlando tenure about his situation ... and he was honest about it.
“I mean, there’s been times where I just expressed my frustration to management,” Gordon said back in 2021. “Frustration with the losses, injuries, the way we’ve been playing, how we’ve been playing and how many losses have accumulated over the years. You know, it’s just my frustration kind of boiling over, I would say. And I think a lot of people share that sentiment with me, of frustration.”
The Magic has changed drastically since Gordon was on the team. Orlando has a new coach in Jamahl Mosley who has constantly preached to his young team the need to "play the right way," which resulted in a double-digit win improvement this season.
It's safe to say now that Gordon is far from frustrated as he plays a key role for the Nuggets in their first-ever Finals run, which begins Thursday, June 1 on ABC.
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