A former NBA player has made his pick for who he feels is the most important player on the Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets continued their exciting playoff run with a 113-104 win in overtime against the OKC Thunder.
Jamal Murray led the scorers with 27 points on the night, but the likes of Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. also stepped up to combine for 63 points.
The Thunder had a three point lead with just 29 seconds left to play and it was then that Gordon stepped up and hit from beyond the arc to tie the scores.
This was just one of the many clutch plays Gordon has had in his career with the Nuggets.
Following the Nuggets’ win, former Miami Heat player Udonis Haslem heaped praise on Gordon and gave flowers to the impact he had on the team, making a call back to the 2023 NBA Finals.
Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty ImagesHaslem believes Aaron Gordon is the most important player on the Nuggets
Gordon has been brilliant in the Nuggets’ postseason run, averaging 18.6 PPG and shooting 41% from three-point range – both career bests in the playoffs for him.
Adelman praised Gordon after his game-winning dunk in Game 3 of the first-round against the LA Clippers.
Since then, he has had a few more clutch plays that have helped the Nuggets significantly.
Speaking about Gordon, Haslem said: “Obviously Joker is their best player, Jamal Murray is their second best player but Aaron Gordon to me is their most important player.
“He is the player in the Final we had no answer for.
“They put down on that baseline where he works that dunker spot, if you step up on Joker, he lobs that ball to him, he is shooting the ball at a 55% clip from three-point range.
“Usually people want to give him that shot, but he is making that shot now and on the defensive end he is going to take that challenge against your best offensive player and make sure he shuts them down put him in the box and makes them work.”
Haslem confirmed Jokic was the Nuggets’ best player and the team needed the three-time MVP to win, but Gordon was the player who made things work for the 2023 NBA champions.
Aaron Gordon is key to the Nuggets’ chances
Gordon was brought to the Nuggets in 2021 to be a role player on the team.
This would have been tough for anyone, considering Gordon was a star on the Orlando Magic.
But the 29-year-old took the role with open arms and has since been a key part of the franchise.
Gordon can do everything offensively, but what makes him special is how elite he is on the defensive end as well.
On a nightly basis, he guards the opposition team’s best player and makes it tough for them with his physicality and athleticism.
Gordon vowed to help Russell Westbrook win a ring and he has stood on that promise, showcasing elite performances in the playoffs.
He has been particularly brilliant from beyond the arc in the series against the Thunder, shooting 55% from three-point range.
If he continues playing the way he has, the Nuggets could beat the Thunder and make it to their second Conference Finals in three years.