Denver Nuggets veteran Aaron Gordon has his own experience adapting to a new role on a new team.
The Denver Nuggets have risen to a solid 9-2 record through the early part of the season, good for the second-best mark in the Western Conference behind the league-best Oklahoma City Thunder.
Much of that success can be attributed to the efforts of players like Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, superstars who are one and two on the Nuggets' scoring leaderboard.
The Nuggets also have a handful of newcomers to the team this season who have played their part in this early success. Jonas Valanciunas, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Bruce Brown weren't part of last season's roster in Denver and have slotted in quickly as quality role players.
Denver Nuggets guard Bruce Brown (11) moves the ball up court against the Los Angeles Clippers during the second half at Intuit Dome. Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn ImagesThere are a number of young players finding their place on the roster as well. The Nuggets have rookies or second-year players on their team that are still trying to find their place in the well-oiled Denver machine. They have someone in their corner when it comes to that process, though: 12-season NBA veteran Aaron Gordon.
Some Advice from Aaron Gordon
“This is just about playing the right way. You find this team and you find this system that plays the right game. They move the ball, they do all the little things best of all, and then you can shine. So that's what I tell all of the younger kids coming out, you know, you can handle. Just make sure you can do everything, and hopefully you find that an offense plays the right way,” Gordon said.
Denver Nuggets center Jonas Valanciunas (17) hands the ball off to guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) in the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at Ball Arena. Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn ImagesGordon has experience coming into this system and adjusting to it. He may be one of the longest-standing Nuggets players now, but he, too, had to come in as a new player when he was traded from the Orlando Magic, the team he began his career with, midseason during the 2020-21 season.
Gordon has clearly settled in to the team in the years since and his risen to be one of the best defenders on the team and a reliable scorer, averaging 19.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while shooting 53.3% from the field.
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (32) reacts after a play in the third quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Ball Arena. Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn ImagesHaving a veteran presence and someone who has undergone the process of transitioning to a new team and a new role is an incredibly valuable factor to have for players, young and old, veteran and new.
Succeeding in a new role requires both adaptability and comfort: adaptability on the player's end and the provision of comfort by the team. Based on Gordon's words and the Nuggets' early success, it seems that the team has that combination of both.