Aaron Gordon knew he fractured his jaw just seconds after a mishap in July.
And, then, almost as instantly, a concern arose.
Gordon wondered whether he had squandered all the momentum he had built since his rookie season ended.
"Doubt creeps into your mind," he recalled on Sunday.
Almost two and a half months have passed since Gordon underwent surgery July 14 to repair his fractured jaw, and the bone now is almost fully healed. Although he has participated in the first four practices of Orlando Magic training camp, he has been forced to sit out full-contact drills and team scrimmages.