Nuggets Star Compares Guarding Jimmy Butler and LeBron James

Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon is ready for the Miami Heat

Joey Linn | May 31, 2023

Nuggets Star Compares Guarding Jimmy Butler and LeBron James /

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Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon is a versatile option offensively, but he is also often tasked with the toughest assignments defensively as well. According to the NBA's matchup data, the four players Gordon has defended the most this postseason are Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Karl Anthony-Towns, and Anthony Davis.

Gordon has emerged as a defensive star for Denver in these playoffs, primarily in the Phoenix Suns series, when he held Kevin Durant to 38.2% shooting across 230 possessions, per the NBA's matchup data. Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Gordon was asked about the difference between his previous defensive assignments this postseason, and the looming matchup with Jimmy Butler.

"Jimmy does everything," Gordon said. "He does all the intangible things. He gets out in transition. He gets cuts. He gets offensive rebounds. He gets back doors. He gets spin-outs. He does a lot of the game within the game, as well as being really skilled. He's a difficult cover."

Aaron Gordon says Jimmy Butler is a much different matchup compared to his other playoff assignments, LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Karl-Anthony Towns: “Jimmy does everything. He does all of the intangible things. He plays the game within the game.”
— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) May 30, 2023

Nuggets head coach Michael Malone also spoke about this matchup, saying, "With a guy like Jimmy, you've got to give him different looks. You cannot guard him with the same play or the same scheme over a game, over four quarters or a series. That's going to be a challenge to give him different looks and to keep him off the foul line... It's not just on Aaron Gordon. It's on all five guys on the floor to try to slow him up and to give him different looks. We'll be ready."

While Gordon may get the primary assignment on Butler, it will take a collective from the Nuggets to slow the Heat star down.

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Published May 31, 2023

JOEY LINN

Title: Credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation Email: joeylinn52@gmail.com Education: Communication Studies degree from Biola University Location: Los Angeles, California Expertise: NBA analysis and reporting Experience: Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined Sports Illustrated's FanNation to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams during his time in school. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts, combined with his excellence in the classroom, earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time across multiple platforms, primarily serving as a credentialed Clippers beat writer.

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