NBA FINALS: HEAT VS. NUGGETS

May 31, 2023

Aaron Gordon

Denver Nuggets

Media Day

Q. Can you talk about the value and importance your brother, Drew, has for the journey you’ve been able to accomplish?

AARON GORDON: My bigger brother has been there every step of the way. We battled on the basketball court, on and off the floor. And he is just somebody that has been so solid and kept it so real with me from day one.

I can’t even really answer that in just such a short amount of time. I would need so much time to elaborate on how my big brother has been there and shaped my life and shown me what to do and what not to do. How to move. How to act. How to hold yourself. Made me tough. Big bro made me tough when it comes down to it.

Q. When you have such a long layoff and they are coming off a long series, how do you press that advantage? Is it as simple as just trying to play fast or are there other ways you can do to kind of make them feel that disadvantage?

AARON GORDON: I don’t know. What would you suggest? I guess just play fast. Play for all 48 minutes. Yeah, just play faster.

Q. Obviously growing up, I’m sure you watched the NBA Finals, dreamed of these moments. How do you balance enjoying this moment and your basketball journey while also staying locked in?

AARON GORDON: Always be deeply present. I think that is a reward in its own right. Just be in the moment, enjoying this, regardless of the outcome, regardless of what happens. Just being present with my brothers out there battling, attempting to bring how a championship.

Q. You had Karl-Anthony Towns in the first series, you had LeBron last series, you had Kevin Durant. Just as your primary responsibilities. I'm sure you're going to spend a lot of time on Jimmy Butler. What do you think of the matchup with Jimmy Butler and what are some things from the first three series that you can apply to this one?

AARON GORDON: Staying out of foul trouble is going to be really crucial. Jimmy does a great job of seeking contact and getting the refs to make a decision.

I've said it before, I'll say it again: I think out of everybody that you mentioned, I think Jimmy could potentially be the most complete player out of those guys. That's saying a lot. As far as the offensive package, the defensive package, the in-between too -- the transition, the cuts, the offensive rebounds. He can shoot the three. He can make the three. He can make the middie. He can get to the cup. And he does it through 48 minutes. He is a difficult cover, for sure.

To stay out of foul trouble is huge. Jimmy is also a really smart player. I know he's going to try to get the switch a lot so I'm not the primary defender. I'm just going to do my best to make it difficult with him. Use my size, continue to use my physicality and use my speed.

Q. You and Jeff were together in Orlando. He is one of the few vets on the team with Finals experience. I'm wondering if you have had any conversations with him about it?

AARON GORDON: That is my brother. Jeff is my big bro. We played in Orlando together. Different opportunity, different circumstances.

Coming back together, this organization has been a blessing. Just to see eye-to-eye, relearn each other, just know that you have a brother in the locker room, for real.

He gives me little advice and tidbits here and there, texts before the games. It's just all encouraging. Just the belief that we have in each other is amazing.

I used to watch Jeff Green growing up. I've always been a fan of his game forever. He's an incredible talent. Just an awesome dude to have on the floor and in the locker room, as well.

Q. Aaron, I talked with one of your former college coach, Coach Pasternack the other day. He told a story about telling you to stop practicing so hard, overworking yourself. Have you had a chance to reflects on your journey from Arizona all the way now to competing for a title this year?

AARON GORDON: That's a real thing, a reoccurring theme in my life. Just overworking to the point of diminishing returns (smiling).

It's like working so much to the point where now it's game time and now I have a nagging injury or a nagging ailment or something like that. I'm finally taking the needle off of that broken record. I've conserved enough energy, made sure I stayed in the right rhythm.

That's how I've always been, been a workhorse. I try to be the hardest-working player on the team, which is hard in this organization. There's a lot of really hard workers. Not an easy task.

Now it's just about trusting the work that I have put in from that point, from before that, up until now. Like I said before, just the presence, the moment, letting it all go.

Q. You talked a lot about the basketball challenge that Jimmy poses. Another thing he's pretty good at is getting under someone's skin. What do you see in terms of how he does that? Is that something you've thought about not getting tied up with?

AARON GORDON: Jimmy is not like a crazy talker. He doesn't talk too wild. I think he talks, if you start with him, if he gets rolling, he might start chirping a little bit.

I think what gets under people's skin about Jimmy is his calm and collectedness. Through 48 minutes, he's very poised and he's very calm. I think that's really what irks other people.

Q. What is it like to catch passes from a seven-foot center, and how long did it take you to get used to those passes?

AARON GORDON: Not long at all. Didn't take me long at all. It's an amazing luxury for a center, for Nikola, big fella like himself, being able to just see the floor. He sees everything on the floor, everyone before it even happens.

If you double-team, he can pass over the top of the double team. He can pass with his left hand, right hand, off a spin. He always keeps the defense off balance. You always have to be ready to shoot, ready to score. That's one thing that I've learned.

It was almost like clockwork when I came in because I love to play like that. I love to cut. I love to get out of the defender's vision and make him pay for that. So it's been a blessing.