The first game of the season was an inauspicious beginning for Aaron Gordon.
He looked more like the same player from the years before. A jumpy, athletic forward who could get to the basket and score, but whose offensive game still lacked refinement. It seemed to start the season — 14 points on 4-for-13 shooting in that win against the Miami Heat — Gordon was much of the same player. Still lacking refinement and definition.
And, to be more of the same, Gordon suffered an injury in that game. It slowed him down some at the end of the game and kept him out of the Orlando Magic’s second game against the Brooklyn Nets and the following night against the Cleveland Cavaliers.