Denver, CO
On receiving end of Nikola Jokic’s dimes, Aaron Gordon’s confidence is high: “I’ve got the best hands in the business”
Aaron Gordon was running a fade route, straight downfield, but the ball wasn’t lofted up for him to chase. It was thrown on a line, about head height. As he turned to make a catch, multiple defenders were converging on the space between him and the trajectory of the ball.
“It’s not a great pass,” Gordon’s high school coach, Tim Kennedy, recalled.
But Gordon was already mastering a rather niche art: ensnaring the unpredictable and the unwieldy.
The Archbishop Mitty sophomore extended his left arm while in stride, trying to get the first touch on the ball before his opponent. He tipped the pass up and over the traffic — over his shoulders, too — and collected it in his right hand.
“It could have been a pick-six going the other way, a change in momentum,” Kennedy said. “But he was able to absorb a bad pass and not have it cost us.”
The play occurred in a high school basketball game, not a football game. Gordon flushed it in transition. But Kennedy’s word choice was appropriate. With athletic reflexes and reliable hands that would make NFL quarterbacks jealous, Gordon’s receiving skills have become an underrated cornerstone of the Denver Nuggets’ offense, often turning dangerous risks into thrilling highlights.
“He’s always in the right spots, and he’s a strong guy,” Nikola Jokic told The Denver Post. “So whenever we pass it to him, even if it’s a bad pass, he’s gonna catch it and finish.”
No other quarterback in the NBA thrives on the thrill of passing quite like Jokic. Nobody else stoically delights at slinging it through improbable windows: between the raised hands of an opposing center in guarding position, or bouncing over a defender’s outstretched leg into an empty space he expects his receiver to occupy. Behind his own back. Over his head. Over entire unsuspecting defenses.
Someone has to be capable of keeping up with his inventive style for it to work. Gordon is a natural at it. The Nuggets collectively are well-accustomed to handling Jokic’s unpredictable dimes, but Gordon bears the brunt of that responsibility in the dunker spot.
“That’s the best passer in the business,” he told The Post. “I’ve got the best hands in the business.”
If he sounds cocky, it’s because his hands have always been that good. When he played football as a kid, he started at running back but eventually switched to tight end as he grew into a standout athlete in the Bay Area. He was done with football by high school, as much as his school tried to convince him otherwise. His dexterity was clear. He simply brought it to the basketball court instead.
Gordon’s talent and potential were a formula for him to be more of an on-ball player at the time, even though he wasn’t an especially adept ball-handler. His size relative to other teenagers made scheming easy at first: Throw it to him in the post and let him go to work.
“But we would have to challenge him in practices, just to make it tough. Send doubles and triple-teams, because that’s what he was seeing in games,” Kennedy said. “So his ability to catch in traffic was something he got used to almost immediately as a freshman.”
Brandon Abajelo had just moved from Las Vegas when he met Gordon by matching up against him in an eighth-grade rec game. Gordon was already huge for his age (hands included, Abajelo noticed). The new kid pulled off an upset by swatting the ball away from Gordon the first time Gordon went at him one-on-one. Gordon’s competitive fire was ignited. Abajelo didn’t have much luck the rest of the game, but they became close friends and won two state titles together in high school.
From that first interaction alone, Abajelo learned an important truth: If Gordon wanted the ball in his hands, he would get it. Triple-teams be damned.
“A lot of times if I was ever in trouble — if I’m on the wing and I’m getting doubled — the fail-safe is just, throw it in the air and Aaron will go get it,” Abajelo said. “… You try to make a good pass. That doesn’t always happen. But there was a big room for error in terms of where you throw it.”
Understanding that margin of error might have made Gordon’s teammates a little complacent in their precision occasionally, but it also trained Gordon as a receiver even more.
“We weren’t always the best passing team,” Kennedy said bluntly.
By the time Gordon was a senior, he was playing a variety of positions, even running point. Opposing teams were hyper-aware of his high-flying dunk potential, so they scouted and denied any plays designed to end in an alley-oop to Gordon. Kennedy had to tell his other players not to hunt the lob and force bad passes. Gordon was developing as a receiver, sure, but not by catching a ton of 50-50 balls at the rim.
Instead, it was a matter of versatility. Opponents tried to defend him with a physicality that bordered on excessive — he was experiencing the eventual Jokic treatment — so Kennedy would try to send Gordon through multiple screening actions. “He was used to coming at different angles and catching it at different spots, whether it’s that short corner, the high post, low post, even at the wing,” Kennedy said.
The dunker spot in Denver’s ball movement-oriented offense has become Gordon’s baby. He observed Jokic’s masterful court vision and learned to space the floor and cut with pin-point timing that complements the two-time MVP. He has always been a gifted rim-runner. When Jokic saw through multiple Golden State defenders during a fast break in January, Gordon noticed and accelerated. He knew where the bounce pass would end up.
As for actually gathering and controlling the advanced-level passes, Gordon benefitted from a combination of his adolescent experience and naturally athletic hands.
“You just have a coach throw a ball at you as hard as he possibly can, over and over, until you catch it,” he told The Post after snagging and finishing one of Jokic’s recent no-look assists.
The one in question was a cheat code. Denver drew up an after-timeout play in which Gordon slipped behind the defense along the baseline while Jokic and Jamal Murray ran a pick-and-roll. It was supposed to end with Jokic passing, Gordon finishing. It wasn’t supposed to end with Jokic blindly going over the back of his head.
It was as if Jokic simply had to keep Gordon on his toes, even at the possible expense of accuracy.
“He makes me look good,” Jokic said.
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Getty
The Denver Nuggets could lose Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in NBA free agency.
After a run with the Denver Nuggets, the two-time NBA champion Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit the free agency market to sign a lucrative multi-year contract in 2024.
Caldwell-Pope landed a $66 million offer from the Orlando Magic during the summer of 2024. The third season of the deal costs $21.6 million, and it’s up to Caldwell-Pope if he wants to exercise that or become a free agent again.
As the contract is currently on the Memphis Grizzlies‘ books, the team recently landed an update on the veteran’s plans from the NBA insider, Michael Scotto.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s Future Plans Revealed
GettyLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 04: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #5 of the Denver Nuggets looks to pass in front of James Harden #1 of the LA Clippers during a 102-100 Clippers win at Crypto.com Arena on April 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
via Michael Scotto, HoopsHype: Memphis Grizzlies guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is expected to exercise his $21.6 million player option for the 2026-27 season, league sources say. It’s the last year of a 3-year, $66 million deal negotiated by Rich Paul of Klutch Sports. More on KCP and Ja Morant on @YESNetwork.
The 33-year-old guard spent just one season with the Magic.
In Orlando, Caldwell-Pope appeared in 77 games. He averaged 8.7 points, while shooting 43.9% from the field and hitting on 34.2% of his threes.
Last summer, the Magic cut ties with Caldwell-Pope in the Desmond Bane blockbuster. The veteran’s first season with the Grizzlies included 51 appearances. He averaged 8.4 points while shooting 31.6% from three.
Back in late February, the Grizzlies announced that Caldwell-Pope would undergo season-ending surgery on his pinky finger.
Although Caldwell-Pope plans to pick up his final option, that doesn’t guarantee he is staying with the Grizzlies for the entire 2026-2027 NBA season. Veteran players with a notable resume on expiring deals tend to get moved to contenders when their current team is in the midst of a rebuild.
An NBA Veteran Worth Looking At
GettyNEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 25: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks dribbles as Nikola Jokic #15 and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #5 of the Denver Nuggets defends during the first half at Madison Square Garden on January 25, 2024 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Caldwell-Pope has been in the NBA since 2013.
Coming out of Georgia, he was selected eighth overall by the Detroit Pistons in the 2013 NBA Draft.
After a four-season run with the Pistons, Caldwell-Pope joined the Los Angeles Lakers. During his four-year run with the Lakers, Caldwell-Pope won his first NBA Championship.
The Nuggets traded for the veteran guard during the 2022 offseason. He was moved for Monte Morris and Will Barton. When the Nuggets picked up Caldwell-Pope, he was rewarded with a $30 million extension over two years.
Before leaving Denver, Caldwell-Pope posted averages of 10.4 points, 2.4 assists, and 2.6 rebounds, while shooting 41.5% from three.
He was a member of the Nuggets’ 2023 NBA Championship squad.
Justin Grasso Justin Grasso is an NBA reporter, covering trending league news, transactions, injuries, and player developments. He is a credentialed journalist with nearly a decade of insider access. More about Justin Grasso
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The Colorado Rockies are set to play their home opener against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday, but the weather forecast calls for partly sunny skies and strong winds gusting up to 40 mph. Temperatures will start around 55 degrees at first pitch but steadily drop throughout the game, reaching 52 degrees by the final inning.
Why it matters
The Rockies’ home opener is a highly anticipated event for baseball fans in Denver, and the blustery conditions could impact the game play, fan experience, and overall atmosphere at Coors Field. Strong winds can affect pitching, batting, and fielding, while the dropping temperatures may require fans to bundle up more than expected.
The details
The Pinpoint Weather Alert team forecasts that Friday’s game will see partly sunny skies and gusty winds, with gusts potentially reaching up to 40 mph. At the 2:10 pm first pitch, the temperature will be around 55 degrees, but it will gradually decrease to 54 degrees by the fifth inning and 52 degrees by the end of the game.
- The Rockies’ home opener is scheduled for Friday, April 4, 2026.
- First pitch is set for 2:10 pm.
- Temperatures are expected to start at 55 degrees and drop to 52 degrees by the end of the game.
The players
Colorado Rockies
The professional baseball team based in Denver, Colorado, that plays in the National League West division of Major League Baseball.
Philadelphia Phillies
The professional baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that plays in the National League East division of Major League Baseball.
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What’s next
Fans attending the game should dress in layers and be prepared for the changing weather conditions throughout the afternoon.
The takeaway
The blustery forecast for the Rockies’ home opener highlights the unpredictable nature of springtime weather in Colorado and the importance of being prepared for potential changes in temperature and wind during outdoor sporting events.
Denver, CO
Paint the Town Bright, Local Artists at Bright Space Murals Brings Light to Denver Communities — The Denver VOICE
Story by Ethan Clark
Photos by Giles Clasen
Art is one of the most meaningful parts of Denver’s identity. From the various art districts and museums to the sculptures at the Convention Center, art has defined how people see Denver almost as much as the mountains that serve as the city’s backdrop. While most of Denver’s art scene is confined to specific places that require people to go out of their way to see, one art form breaks the mold and brings color and life to even the most unimportant places: murals.
Murals are a unique medium, as they offer a degree of freedom that other art forms lack. They can be found on the sides of shops to attract customers, in schools to convey a warm, welcoming environment to students, and in businesses, neighborhoods, and communal spaces.
In an interview with Denver VOICE, Denver-based artists Andreas Kremer and Reina Luna, the co-founders of Bright Space Murals, discussed how they use art to bring the community together.
THE ARTISTS BEHIND BRIGHT SPACE MURALS
Andreas Kremer and Reina Luna, who are partners, created Bright Space Murals to bring art to businesses, schools, or anyone else interested in enhancing their surroundings. Kremer, originally from Maryland, moved to Colorado to pursue his love of snowboarding. He spent a winter working at Keystone Resort before moving to Denver to work for Never Summer, a popular snowboard brand. Reina Luna, who was born and raised in Denver, has been a massage therapist for over seven years and has had a passion for art for decades. She and Kremer met through a mutual friend after the COVID lockdowns ended and the world began to reopen.
Kremer became interested in painting murals after watching the YouTube channel Ten Hundred, and his job at Never Summer offered him the opportunity to paint one of his own.
According to Kremer, he was inspired to paint an ugly, rusting shipping container outside the Never Summer factory, wanting to make sure the first thing people entering the factory saw was more visually appealing. He said that he had never made anything like this before, but drafted a design to show the owners — who were impressed — and they gave him the chance to try.
Kremer said the project was difficult, but turned out to be a great success and launched his career as a muralist. Luna, who helped with Kremer’s first mural, was daunted by the challenge this project presented.
“I was way out of my comfort zone, and I had no idea how we were going to do this, but [I told him] if you want to do this, I will help you out,” Luna said. “It turned out really good, and I was really proud of the hard work.”
“These murals are really not for us, they’re for either this space or this community, or the area where we’re leaving it,” Kremer said.
“The murals [are] an extension of us to the community, sharing our own creative effort in a space that’s public for everyone to enjoy and interpret in your own way,” Luna said.
Since creating their first mural, Kremer and Luna have continued painting murals for anyone interested in their art. They also host workshops with local high schools, including George Washington High School and Prep Academy. During these workshops, students design and make the mural with their guidance.
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