A couple of calf strains helped Aaron Gordon strengthen his case for the most interesting man in the NBA.

The injuries that cost Gordon 23 of Denver’s first 56 games provided time for another creative outlet. Gordon released “Too Close,” an R&B track on the major streaming services on Feb. 14.

“It was mastered a couple of days before Valentine’s Day. I had some time off with my calf, so I thought it was entertaining. I had fun,” Gordon said after Thursday’s win over Charlotte.

“It’s just a way to get things off my chest.”

Denver hosts the Los Angeles Lakers at 6:30 p.m. Saturday (ABC).

Gordon said it took about four weeks to write the 3-minute song. He doesn’t have any traditional vocal training. The 29-year-old practices like the rest of us.

“Singing in the car, singing in the shower,” Gordon said. “It ended up coming together.”

The first calf strain sidelined Gordon for most of November. The second happened on Christmas and cost him a couple of more weeks. Denver’s starting power forward played more than 25 minutes in just four games between his return on Jan. 12 and the All-Star break.

In Denver’s first game out of the break, Gordon made eight of his 13 shots, finished with 18 points, grabbed seven rebounds, including four on the offensive glass, and dished out two assists without a turnover in 32 minutes of playing time.

“He was definitely a man around the rim, being forceful, playing to the rim,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “I think the break was, obviously, great for everybody.”

The first four shots Gordon made all came in the restricted area around the hoop. Then, Jamal Murray found Gordon for a catch-and-shoot 3. Gordon, who’s on pace to shoot a career-best mark from deep, knocked down the triple before getting back inside for a couple of driving layups and a tip-in.

“Aaron being Aaron, being a presence down there,” Murray said. “He’s a big dude. When he gets a matchup, you know where he’s going. He draws a lot of attention, as well.”

Nikola Jokic hadn’t heard Gordon’s new song, but he was a fan of the on-court performance.

“He was good, especially on the low post,” Jokic said. “He was really physical there. He gave us some really important buckets. He was really good tonight.”

Outside of releasing new music, Gordon said his break was largely about relaxing.

“It was rest, a lot of rest,” Gordon said. “I did a little bit of cardio, but as far as our shape goes, I think that will be back within a day or two.”

Gordon also dabbles in other artistic mediums. He recently painted a 9-foot sculpture of an astronaut, attended Tommy Hilfiger’s show at New York Fashion week and recently became an underwear model for SAXX. As impressive as Gordon’s vocals were on the single, Nuggets fans don’t have to worry about him giving up basketball to pursue another passion anytime soon.

“Hopefully, I’m too old for people to be listening to my R&B songs as a career after basketball,” Gordon said.