In his first three NBA seasons, Aaron Gordon shot, in order, 27, 29 and 28 percent from 3-point range. The Orlando Sentinel reported that his teammates sometimes shouted “don’t shoot” when he squared up to let a 3-ball fly.
As a college player at Arizona, Gordon shot 42 percent from the foul line in 2013-14, the lowest percentage for a Wildcats starter in history.
So it was unexpected news Tuesday when Gordon scored 41 points in the Magic’s home win over the Nets.
Mr. Dunk swished all five of his 3-point shots. He also went 8 for 10 from the foul line.
“You guys know from where Aaron was when he came into the league,” Orlando teammate Nikola Vucevic told Florida reporters. “To where he is now, that’s a very big difference.”
Two things about Gordon’s improved shooting: He turned 22 last month. He’s a kid in basketball years, still learning. And because he no longer goes through a daily regimen of a college ballplayer, he has an abundance of time to work on his shooting. To his credit, that’s what Gordon has done.
“The kid works his tail off,” Magic coach Frank Vogel said.
So where does Gordon’s 41-point game stack up against other ex-Wildcats in the NBA? Here’s the list:
1. Gilbert Arenas
Incredibly, Arenas scored 40 or more points 27 times while in the NBA. He had nights in which he scored 60, 54 and 51. Arenas was a prolific scorer, in part, because he drew so many fouls. In a 60-point game in 2006 against the Lakers, Arenas made 21 of 27 foul shots. In a 43-point game against Boston in 2006, he made 21 of 25 foul shots.
2. Mike Bibby
He scored 40 or more five times, with a career-high of 44 against Philadelphia in 2006.
3(tie). Jason Terry
The Jet twice scored at least 40 in a game, led by a 46-point night in 2002 against Dallas in which he hit 13 foul shots.
3 (tie). Richard Jefferson
Not known as a shooter, Jefferson scored 42 against Cleveland in 2004 when he made 16 foul shots, and 40 two years later against Charlotte when he went 11 for 15 from the line.
Others? Damon Stoudamire never scored in the 40s in his long NBA career, but he did score 50 in 2005 against New Orleans, a night he made eight 3-pointers.
Sean Elliott scored in the 40s once, a 1992 game against Dallas when he scored 41 points on a 16-for-22 shooting night.
Eric Money, a Fred Snowden-era point guard, scored 40 against the Nets in 1979 game without making any 3-pointers.
Michael Dickerson scored 41 against the Clippers in 2000 by making 17 of 27 shots, just two of which were 3-pointers.
Who’s next? My money’s on Bulls rookie Lauri Markkanen.
