Aaron Addison Gordon Bio
Aaron Addison Gordon is an American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born on September 16, 1995, in San Jose, California, Gordon has established himself as a versatile forward known for his athleticism, defensive versatility, and improving offensive game. After a standout high school career at Archbishop Mitty and one season at the University of Arizona, Gordon was selected fourth overall by the Orlando Magic in the 2014 NBA Draft. After seven seasons with the Magic, he was traded to the Nuggets in 2021 and became a key contributor to their championship run in 2023. Gordon continues to be a central piece of the Nuggets’ roster as they pursue continued success in the Western Conference.
Early Life and Background
Aaron Addison Gordon was born in San Jose, California, to Ed Gordon, a former San Diego State basketball player, and Shelly Davis Gordon. Gordon has claimed that his paternal great-great-grandfather was a 7-foot-tall Osage Indian. His father is Black and his mother is white. After going undrafted by the NBA, Gordon’s father attempted to try out as a tight end for the National Football League’s New England Patriots without prior football experience. After being cut in the preseason, he played professional basketball in Mexico for a season.
Gordon’s older brother, Drew Gordon, also became a professional basketball player, while his older sister, Elise Gordon, played collegiate basketball for the Harvard women’s basketball team. Drew Gordon tragically died in a May 2024 car accident, which inspired Aaron to change his jersey number from 50 to 32 to honor his late brother’s memory.
Path to Professional Basketball
Gordon attended Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose, California, where he quickly made his presence felt. As a freshman during the 2009-10 season, he started in 28 of 41 games and averaged 11.8 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game. He also competed on the school’s track and field team as a thrower and played summer basketball for the Oakland Soldiers program.
As a sophomore during the 2010-11 season, Gordon helped his team win the CIF Division II title, which was Mitty’s first state title in boys’ basketball. Mitty finished with a 32-2 record with Gordon playing all 34 games, averaging 16.4 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 3.6 blocks per game. In the 2011 title game, Gordon scored 17 points and broke the state championship record by gathering 21 rebounds.
During his junior year (2011-12), Gordon led Archbishop Mitty to their second CIF Division II state title after defeating La Costa Canyon 78-57 in the finals. Gordon finished the game with 33 points and 20 rebounds while averaging 22.9 points, 12.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 2.3 blocks per game for the season. He was chosen as the California Mr. Basketball Player of the Year. As a senior (2012-13), Gordon averaged 21.6 points, 15.7 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks per game, leading Archbishop Mitty to a 28-6 record and earning his second consecutive California Mr. Basketball Player of the Year honor. Gordon committed to the University of Arizona on April 2, 2013, and after a 24-point, 8-rebound performance in the 2013 McDonald’s All-American Game, he was named the game’s MVP.
Aaron Addison Gordon Career
University of Arizona (2013-2014)
Gordon made his college debut for the Arizona Wildcats on November 8, 2013, in a 73-62 win against Cal Poly, recording 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocks in 33 minutes of play. On February 22, 2014, Gordon scored a season-high 23 points in a win against Colorado, scoring 21 points in the second half alone. On March 2, 2014, Gordon led his team to a Pac-12 regular season title after a 79-66 victory over Stanford where he scored 19 points and achieved a career-high 15 rebounds.
In the 2014 NCAA tournament, Gordon scored 16 points in a 68-59 victory over Weber State. Arizona advanced to the Sweet 16 after defeating Gonzaga 84-61 with Gordon adding 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. Gordon scored 15 points in a 70-64 win against San Diego State before the Wildcats were eliminated in a close 63-64 loss to Wisconsin in the Elite Eight, with Gordon scoring 8 points and grabbing 18 rebounds. Gordon finished his freshman year with a record-breaking 303 rebounds and declared for the NBA draft on April 15, 2014, forgoing his remaining college eligibility. He earned Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, First-team All-Pac-12, and Third-team All-American honors.
Orlando Magic (2014-2021)
On June 26, 2014, Gordon was selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic. After signing with the Magic on July 2, he joined them for the 2014 NBA Summer League. Gordon’s rookie season was interrupted when he fractured a bone in his left foot on November 16, 2014, during a game against the Washington Wizards, causing him to miss 32 games. He returned to action on January 18, 2015. On April 4, 2015, Gordon recorded his first career double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds in a 97-90 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
During the 2016 NBA All-Star Weekend, Gordon finished as the runner-up to Zach LaVine in the Slam Dunk Contest. Their battle through two tie-breakers in the final round drew comparisons to the legendary showdown between Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins in 1988. Gordon utilized Stuff the Magic Dragon, the Magic’s 6½-foot tall mascot, in his dunks, and his final dunk involved him jumping over the mascot while passing the ball under both legs. On December 14, 2016, Gordon scored a then career-high 33 points in a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
On October 24, 2017, Gordon scored a then career-high 41 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 36 seconds remaining, to lift the Magic to a 125-121 win over the Brooklyn Nets. On November 29, 2017, he recorded 40 points and 15 rebounds to help Orlando end a nine-game losing streak with a 121-108 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. On July 6, 2018, Gordon re-signed with the Magic on a four-year, $80 million contract. During the 2018-19 season, the Magic qualified for the postseason for the first time since 2012, and Gordon made his playoff debut on April 13, 2019, recording 10 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals in a Game 1 win against the Toronto Raptors.
On December 4, 2019, Gordon scored a season-high 32 points against the Phoenix Suns. Gordon was runner-up in the Slam Dunk Contest to Derrick Jones Jr. during the 2020 NBA All-Star Weekend, losing a closely contested final round. On February 28, 2020, Gordon recorded his first career triple-double with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 assists in a win against the Minnesota Timberwolves. On March 19, 2021, Gordon posted a season-high 38 points with a career-high seven 3-pointers in a victory against the Brooklyn Nets, ending the Magic’s nine-game losing streak.
Denver Nuggets (2021-Present)
On March 25, 2021, Gordon and Gary Clark were traded to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Gary Harris, R.J. Hampton, and a future first-round pick. Gordon had been averaging 14.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in 29 minutes of action with the Magic that season. On March 28, he made his Nuggets debut in a 126-102 win against the Atlanta Hawks, logging 13 points and 2 rebounds in 21 minutes of action. The Nuggets qualified for the playoffs but lost in four games to the Phoenix Suns during the Western Conference Semifinals.
On September 27, 2021, Gordon signed a four-year, $92 million extension through the 2025-26 season. During the 2022-23 season, Gordon was discussed as a potential NBA All-Star selection. In Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals, Gordon scored 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting in a win over the Phoenix Suns. In Game 4 of the 2023 NBA Finals, Gordon scored a then playoff career-high 27 points on 11-of-15 shooting in a victory over the Miami Heat. The Nuggets went on to win 94-89 in Game 5, making Gordon an NBA champion for the first time in his career.
During the 2023-24 season, Gordon missed multiple games after being bitten by a dog on his face and hands. In Game 3 of the Nuggets’ first-round playoffs series against the Los Angeles Lakers, Gordon posted playoff career-highs with 29 points and 15 rebounds in a 112-105 win. In Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Gordon logged 27 points on 11-for-12 shooting alongside 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Denver ultimately lost the series to Minnesota in seven games.
Driving Style and Strengths
Gordon is known for his exceptional athleticism, which allows him to finish powerfully at the rim and impact the game on both ends of the floor. His versatility enables him to guard multiple positions, making him a valuable piece in the Nuggets’ defensive schemes. Gordon has shown continuous improvement in his 3-point shooting, becoming a more reliable floor spacer as his career has progressed. His ability to attack the basket, finish through contact, and contribute as a playmaker has made him an integral part of Denver’s offensive system alongside Nikola Jokic.
Notable Events and Milestones
Gordon’s NBA career has been marked by memorable performances and milestone moments. His back-to-back Slam Dunk Contest runner-up finishes in 2016 and 2020 showcased his extraordinary leaping ability and creativity. His dramatic 50-point performance on October 23, 2025, against the Golden State Warriors set a new Nuggets franchise record for most points in a season-opening game. Gordon’s buzzer-beating dunk against the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 4 of the 2025 playoffs made him the first player in NBA playoff history to achieve such a feat. His clutch game-winning three-pointer against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the 2025 second round further cemented his reputation as a big-game performer.
Aaron Addison Gordon Career Wins
Gordon has accumulated significant accomplishments across his professional and amateur career, highlighted by his 2023 NBA championship with the Denver Nuggets. His collegiate career at Arizona saw him lead the Wildcats to a Pac-12 regular season title and an Elite Eight appearance in the 2014 NCAA Tournament.
NBA Highlights
Gordon’s most significant professional achievement remains winning the NBA championship with the Denver Nuggets in 2023. Throughout his career with both the Orlando Magic and Denver Nuggets, he has established himself as a consistent double-digit scorer and impactful defender. His career-high 50-point performance against the Golden State Warriors on October 23, 2025, showcased his evolved offensive repertoire. Gordon has twice been a runner-up in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, with both competitions going down to the wire against elite company.
Amateur Honors
Prior to his professional career, Gordon accumulated an impressive list of honors at the amateur level. He was named California Mr. Basketball Player of the Year twice (2012 and 2013) and was a First-team Parade All-American in 2013. Gordon earned MVP honors at the 2013 FIBA Under-19 World Cup in Prague, where he averaged team highs of 16.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game while shooting 61.2 percent from the field. He was also named the USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year in 2013 after leading Team USA to gold at the FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship, where he earned MVP honors. Gordon also won MVP of the 2013 McDonald’s All-American Game after scoring 24 points to lead the West to victory.
Aaron Addison Gordon Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Gordon comes from an athletic family with deep basketball roots. His father, Ed Gordon, played college basketball at San Diego State before pursuing a brief career in professional basketball and an attempt at the NFL. Gordon’s older brother, Drew Gordon, also played professional basketball and tragically passed away in May 2024. Drew’s memory lives on through Aaron, who changed his jersey number from 50 to 32 prior to the 2024-25 season to honor his late brother who wore No. 32 throughout his basketball career. Gordon’s older sister, Elise Gordon, played collegiate basketball for Harvard University’s women’s basketball team.
Personal Life
Gordon maintains a presence on social media and is active with his sponsorship partnerships, including a deal with Chinese sports brand 361 Degrees. In 2016, he was appointed president of athlete acquisition for Lucid, a sports psychology app developed by mental skills coach Graham Betchart. Gordon made his acting debut in 2018 as Casper in the film Uncle Drew. In 2020, he released a single titled Pull Up with rap artist Moe. Gordon has also been involved in philanthropy, donating to the Homeless Education Fund at the Foundation for Orange County Public Schools of Florida to help children affected by school closures during the coronavirus pandemic.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a defining chapter in Gordon’s career. He began the year with a historic 50-point performance against the Golden State Warriors on October 23, 2025, setting a new Nuggets franchise record for most points in a season-opening game. Gordon shot 10-of-11 from three-point range, tying Terry Rozier’s record for most three-pointers made in a season opener. However, the season was interrupted by injuries, as Gordon was diagnosed with a Grade 2 right hamstring strain on November 23, 2025, ruling him out for 4-to-6 weeks. He re-injured the hamstring against the Milwaukee Bucks on January 29, 2026, requiring another 4-to-6 week absence. Gordon returned to action on March 6, recording 3 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists in a loss to the New York Knicks.
Despite the injury setbacks, Gordon delivered several spectacular performances in the playoffs. On April 26, 2025, he scored 14 points and delivered a game-winning, buzzer-beating dunk in Game 4 against the Los Angeles Clippers, becoming the first player in NBA playoff history to achieve such a feat on a buzzer-beater. In the second round against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Gordon logged a double-double of 22 points and 14 rebounds with a game-winning three-pointer in Game 1. He followed that with another 22-point performance in Game 3, including a game-tying three late in regulation. Despite Gordon’s clutch efforts throughout the postseason, Denver ultimately lost the series to Oklahoma City in seven games. Gordon’s ability to deliver in crucial moments despite injuries demonstrated his resilience and value to the Nuggets franchise.