Aaron Gordon Bio
Aaron Addison Gordon is an American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born in San Jose, California, he plays the power forward and small forward positions, wears jersey number 32, and stands 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) tall. Gordon is widely recognized for his high-flying athleticism and his role in helping the Denver Nuggets capture the 2023 NBA championship.
After being drafted fourth overall by the Orlando Magic in the 2014 NBA draft, Gordon spent seven seasons in Orlando before being traded to the Nuggets in March 2021. He signed a four-year, $133 million contract extension in October 2024 that runs through the 2027-28 season.
Early Life and Background
Aaron Addison Gordon was born on September 16, 1995, in San Jose, California, to Ed Gordon and Shelly Davis Gordon. His father played basketball at San Diego State and later tried out as a tight end for the New England Patriots before playing a year of professional basketball in Mexico. His older brother, Drew Gordon, also played professional basketball, while his older sister, Elise, played collegiately for the Harvard women’s basketball team.
Gordon attended Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose, where he emerged as one of the top high school basketball prospects in the country. He led the Monarchs to CIF Division II state championships in 2011 and 2012 and was named California Mr. Basketball in both his junior and senior seasons. He also competed on the school’s track and field team as a thrower and played summer basketball for the Oakland Soldiers. In January 2020, Archbishop Mitty retired his number 32.
Path to Basketball
Gordon’s development accelerated through elite amateur competition. He represented the United States at the 2011 FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship, where he earned MVP honors after leading the team to a gold medal. Two years later, he was named MVP of the 2013 FIBA Under-19 World Cup in Prague after averaging team highs of 16.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. That same year, he was honored as USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year.
On April 2, 2013, Gordon committed to the University of Arizona. Days later, he delivered a 24-point, 8-rebound performance to lead the West to victory in the McDonald’s All-American Game and was named the game’s MVP. He was also recognized as a first-team Parade All-American, cementing his status as a top recruit.
Aaron Gordon Career
Early Career (2013-2014)
Gordon played one season of college basketball for the Arizona Wildcats during 2013-14. He made his debut on November 8, 2013, recording 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocks in a win over Cal Poly. He finished the season by helping Arizona win the Pac-12 regular season title and reach the Elite Eight of the 2014 NCAA tournament.
His individual accomplishments included Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, First-team All-Pac-12, and Third-team All-American honors from Sporting News. Gordon set an Arizona freshman record with 303 rebounds and declared for the NBA draft on April 15, 2014, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.
NBA Breakthrough (2014-2021)
The Orlando Magic selected Aaron Addison Gordon with the fourth overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft. He signed with the team in July 2014 and joined the Magic for the NBA Summer League. His rookie season was interrupted by a fractured bone in his left foot that caused him to miss 32 games, but he returned to action in January 2015 and recorded his first career double-double on April 4, 2015.
Gordon became a household name during the 2016 NBA All-Star Weekend, when he finished as the runner-up to Zach LaVine in the Slam Dunk Contest. Their battle through two tie-breakers drew comparisons to the iconic 1988 duel between Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins. He returned to the contest in 2020 and again finished as runner-up, this time losing to Derrick Jones Jr. after both posted perfect scores through multiple rounds.
In October 2017, Gordon scored a then career-high 41 points, including the go-ahead three-pointer with 36 seconds remaining, in a 125-121 win over the Brooklyn Nets. He went on to sign a four-year, $80 million extension with Orlando in July 2018 and helped the Magic reach the playoffs in 2019 and 2020, making his playoff debut on April 13, 2019, against the Toronto Raptors. On March 22, 2021, he requested a trade from the Magic.
Denver Nuggets Era (2021-Present)
On March 25, 2021, Aaron Addison Gordon was traded to the Denver Nuggets along with Gary Clark in exchange for Gary Harris, R. J. Hampton, and a future first-round pick. He made his Nuggets debut on March 28, 2021, and signed a four-year, $92 million extension in September 2021.
The defining chapter of Gordon’s career came during the 2022-23 season. In Game 4 of the 2023 NBA Finals, he scored a then playoff career-high 27 points on 11-of-15 shooting in a victory over the Miami Heat. The Nuggets closed out the series in Game 5, making Gordon an NBA champion. On October 21, 2024, he and the Nuggets agreed to a four-year, $133 million contract extension.
Prior to the 2024-25 season, Gordon switched his jersey number from 50 to 32 to honor his late older brother Drew Gordon, who had died in a May 2024 car accident. On October 23, 2025, Gordon erupted for a career-high 50 points on 10-of-11 three-point shooting in an overtime loss to the Golden State Warriors, setting a new Nuggets franchise record for most points in a season-opening game.
Driving Style and Strengths
Gordon is widely regarded as one of the most explosive dunkers in NBA history and a versatile defender who can guard multiple positions. His combination of size, leaping ability, and improving three-point shot makes him an ideal fit alongside Nikola Jokic in Denver’s system.
Notable Events and Milestones
Gordon’s signature moments include his back-to-back runner-up finishes in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 2016 and 2020, his buzzer-beating dunk on April 26, 2025, against the Los Angeles Clippers that was the first game-winning buzzer-beating dunk in NBA playoff history, and his 2023 NBA championship with the Denver Nuggets.
Aaron Gordon Career Wins
Aaron Addison Gordon has accumulated impressive accolades at every level of basketball, from high school state championships to an NBA title. His resume includes multiple All-American selections, international gold medals, and conference honors.
NBA Highlights
Gordon won his first and only NBA championship in 2023 with the Denver Nuggets. Although widely regarded as one of the league’s premier players, he has not yet been selected to an NBA All-Star Game.
Other Wins and Performances
At Archbishop Mitty High School, Gordon won two CIF Division II state championships in 2011 and 2012. Internationally, he led Team USA to gold medals at the 2011 FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship and the 2013 FIBA Under-19 World Cup, earning MVP honors at both events. At the University of Arizona, he helped the Wildcats win the Pac-12 regular season title in 2014.
Aaron Gordon Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Aaron Addison Gordon was raised in San Jose, California, by his father, Ed Gordon, a former San Diego State basketball player, and his mother, Shelly Davis Gordon. His older brother, Drew Gordon, also played professional basketball and was honored by Aaron when he switched his jersey number to 32 before the 2024-25 season. His older sister, Elise, played collegiately for the Harvard women’s basketball team.
Personal Life
Gordon signed a partnership agreement with Chinese sports brand 361 Degrees in 2020 and released a rap single titled “Pull Up” in 2020. He made his acting debut in 2018, appearing as Casper in the film Uncle Drew.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025-26 season has been a milestone campaign for Aaron Addison Gordon. He opened with a historic 50-point performance on October 23, 2025, breaking Alex English’s franchise record for most points in a season-opening game. He followed that with several clutch playoff moments, including a buzzer-beating dunk against the Los Angeles Clippers on April 26 and a game-winning three-pointer against the Oklahoma City Thunder on May 9.
Gordon’s season was interrupted by injuries, as he was ruled out for 4-to-6 weeks on November 23, 2025, with a Grade 2 right hamstring strain and missed another 4-to-6 weeks after re-injuring the hamstring on January 29, 2026. He returned to action on March 6, 2026, recording three points, three rebounds, and three assists against the New York Knicks.
Despite his individual efforts, the Nuggets were eliminated in the second round of the 2025 playoffs by the Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games. With his contract extension running through 2028, Gordon remains a central figure in Denver’s championship aspirations.
