The fans of the game of basketball always appreciate the influence of a head coach on the success of an NBA team. Michael Malone showcased the reason behind it once again, as his words brought the best out of Aaron Gordon recently. The recent improvements of the 28-year-old have worked wonders for Nikola Jokic and his teammates.

The enhanced level of his gameplay has made him a standout performer for his team. Amidst that, Malone again displayed the value of proper coaching and man-management in the arena of sports – especially one that is as demanding and competitive as the NBA world.

How did Michael Malone improve Aaron Gordon?

The Denver Nuggets coach called out his team’s forward for inconsistent performances in the initial stages. In his first five matches of the regular season, Aaron registered a total of 21 rebounds for the defending champions. Michael demanded an improvement on that front as he candidly told Gordon, “Get yourself going”.

Malone wanted him to “Get on the glass,” to push his limits further as a rebounder of the modern game. Despite “averaging four rebounds a game” during that phase, the 52-year-old wanted more from his player. “Aaron should be getting 8-12 rebounds every night,” he said publicly to showcase his faith in Gordon.

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It worked like a charm as in the last two matches he recorded 20 rebounds for his side as they won both clashes. “Yesterday, he had 8, tonight he had 12,” Michael declared proudly in the post-match conference. “I think he is taking that message to heart, which is great to see,” he further added to back 6’8 star.

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This put forward the importance of him in the roster following his heroics in last season’s championship run. As the team continued to put their bet on him, one question took the forefront.

Can he help Nikola Jokic win a second championship?

Since coming into the league nearly a decade back, the Californian has developed his gameplay brilliantly. In recent seasons, he has smoothly transitioned into a better defender while continuing to work on his offense. Last season summarized that wonderfully as averaged a career-high field goal percentage while doing the dirty work.

Thus, his influence on the team goes beyond just being a big man to protect the rim. His all-round attributes gave the starting five stability as he honed his rebounding skills sharply. Gordon possesses all the qualities to become a key figure in the side for years to come.

Thus, the possibility of his contribution to a second ring is hard to rule out. Can he make it happen for the Denver organization? Let us know in the comments below.

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