Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (32) shoots against the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter at Chase Center. Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images

Aaron Gordon matches notable NBA record in Nuggets season opener

By Sai Mohan | Last updated Oct 24, 2025 8:32 AM ET

On the same day Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier was arrested as part of an illegal gambling investigation, his NBA record for most threes in a regular-season opener was tied and nearly broken.

Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon was unconscious from deep in his team's season-opening 137-131 overtime loss to the Golden State Warriors, going 10-of-11 from distance and finishing with a career-high 50 points.

Terry Rozier set the record in 2020

Rozier set the record for most threes on opening night as a member of the Charlotte Hornets. In the opening game of the 2020-21 season —which started late due to the COVID pandemic — Rozier shot 10-of-16 from three in Charlotte's 121-114 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Gordon also ended up on the losing end despite his historic shooting night. However, he was much more efficient than Rozier, and his 81% field-goal percentage gave him the most efficient 50-point game in NBA history (including playoffs).

Aaron Gordon just had the most efficient 50-point game in NBA history. pic.twitter.com/x2J11C6Z3Y
— Real Sports (@realapp) October 24, 2025

Aaron Gordon has never been a shooter

Remarkably, Gordon had made only 1.1 threes per game in 720 regular-season games before Thursday's season opener. Last season, he made 1.5 threes per game through 52 contests, improving from the year before, when he converted on only 0.5 of his 1.9 attempts.

That said, Gordon's elevation to sharpshooter status didn't happen overnight. Last season, he shot 43.6% from three, albeit taking only 3.4 shots per game, and made some big shots in the playoffs from deep.

On Wednesday, he became just the sixth player in NBA history to start a season with a 50-piece, thanks mainly to his improved shooting. After the game, he refused to accept the game ball as his team had lost.

"It sucks," Gordon said after the loss, via Alititude TV's Katy Winge. "They're asking if I wanted the game ball, and no, I don’t want the game ball to take an L home with me. No, thank you. But it's one game, our first game. We're gonna reconvene, watch the film, try and play better in our home opener."

The "Inside the NBA" on ESPN crew was just as amazed at the coincidence of the Nuggets star matching Rozier's feat, with Ernie Johnson saying "I kid you not" while praising Gordon's efforts.

Ernie Johnson: "Aaron Gordon made 10 three pointers tonight, tying TERRY ROZIER in 2020 for the most in a season opener in NBA history. I kid you not."

(via @ohnohedidnt24, @HaterReport_) pic.twitter.com/rG7tzGZXBT
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) October 24, 2025

Sai Mohan

A veteran sportswriter based in Portugal, Sai covers the NBA for Yardbarker and a few local news outlets. He had the honor of covering sporting events across four different continents as a newspaper reporter. Some of his all-time favorite athletes include Mike Tyson, Larry Bird, Luís Figo, Ayrton Senna and Steffi Graf.

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