Aaron Gordon Recalls Personal Tragedy After Nuggets' Blowout Game 7 Loss To Thunder

Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon addressed some of the things that he was dealing with while heading into this series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. With the Nuggets' title charge coming to a close after a 125-93 loss in Game 7, Gordon was asked to reflect on key takeaways from the season. The forward reflected on his tragedies and responded:

"Being able to compete for the first time without my brother by my side. I know he's with me, and I know he's staying with me. But, I think just being out here and competing is something."

The month of May proves to be a challenging time for the Nuggets forward. Gordon lost his older brother, Drew Gordon, on 30th May, 2024, to a tragic car accident.

Drew had been a key figure in the forward's life. After a brief time in the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2014-15 season, Gordon's older brother spent time playing professional basketball in the G League and overseas. His brother's experience would prove to be invaluable to the Nuggets forward as he learned much about the NBA and its machinations in this time.

Drew Gordon eventually retired from professional basketball in 2023 and moved to Portland, Oregon, with plans of continuing work in the sport. Unfortunately, he met with a two-car accident that cost him his life.

Gordon carries his brother's memory with him in many ways. The #32 jersey is something that the Nuggets forward wears in honor of his brother, who wore it during his college days at New Mexico. The #32 is a bit of a family heirloom, passed down from Gordon's father, who wore it during his time at San Diego State.

Gordon addressed the choice to switch to the #32 jersey from his initial #50 before the 2024-25 season as well. "It means he is with me," said the forward. "He has my back just like he has my front."

Gordon's older brother was part of the celebrations when the Nuggets won the NBA championship in 2023. Unfortunately, the team couldn't bring another title home this season.

Game 7 presented several challenges for Denver. Although they started well in the first quarter, the game slipped through their fingers after a defensive collapse in the second. Gordon, who was playing through a hamstring injury, only had eight points on the night. 

Nuggets star Jamal Murray completely faded as he shot 1-8 from beyond the arc to notch a total of 13 points for the game. Even sharpshooter Michael Porter Jr, who was playing through a shoulder injury, had a horror shooting performance, ending with only six points on the night on 3-8 shooting from the field.

The blowout loss potentially marks the end of an era in Denver. Although the team is likely to retain its core, if they are to compete for a title again, it is evident that some major personnel changes need to be made.