Denver Nuggets star Aaron Gordon, known for his dunking skills and pivotal role in the team’s championship season, first made his mark in the iconic NBA Dunk Contest against Zach Lavine. Tragedy recently struck when his brother, Drew Gordon, passed away in a car accident in Portland.
After taking time to process the news, Aaron Gordon has finally decided to pay his tribute to his late brother. Gordon will be changing his jersey number with the Nuggets from 50 to 32. This decision was made in order to show respect to his brother, who also played professional basketball. He was a top prospect at UCLA and California before being transferred to Mexico, where he wore the number 32.
Aaron Gordon (@Double0AG) is switching from No. 50 to No. 32 for the #Nuggets to honor his late brother and former pro player Drew Gordon, who passed away earlier in May. Drew used to wear No. 32.
Number last worn by Jeff Green in 2023. #NBA pic.twitter.com/7h7LzSOWlI
— Etienne Catalan (@EtienneCatalan) August 26, 2024
Drew Gordon also had a brief stint in the NBA, playing nine games for the Philadelphia 76ers in 2014. After his time in the NBA, he pursued a successful 11-year career in Europe, where he played for several teams across various leagues. His international career allowed him to showcase his skills and contribute to multiple teams before his tragic passing.
On July 12, 2023, Drew announced his retirement from basketball, sharing the news on social media. In tribute to his brother, Aaron Gordon will honor Drew by wearing his number, a gesture that symbolizes the strong bond and love between the two brothers.
Aaron Gordon and the Denver Nuggets will be aiming to get back in the Championship picture
The Denver Nuggets won the NBA championship in the 2022-23 season. They were great throughout the season and dominated the Western Conference. In the finals they defeated the Miami Heat in the NBA finals in five games. It was the first championship banner for the Nuggets franchise.
In the last season, fans saw the Nuggets struggle a bit with their supporting cast having some bad games. Aaron Gordon went on to average 13.9 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in the last season. His numbers weren’t that good but he provided great support in the frontcourt for the Nuggets.
The Nuggets have added a former multiple-time All-Star in Russell Westbrook to the team to provide some help in the backcourt. With MVP Nikola Jokic on the team, the Nuggets will be hoping to get back in the championship picture after getting eliminated in the second round of the playoffs last season.
