The promise under the No. 32 jersey: Gordon carried his brother s dream and shot the winning three-pointer!

With 3.2 seconds left in the game, Gordon received a pass from Westbrook and took a decisive shot from beyond the three-point line - the ball hit the net! After the game, he walked into the press conference with his two little boys, protecting them tenderly.

In the first game of the NBA Western Conference semifinals, the Denver Nuggets faced the Oklahoma City Thunder with 3.2 seconds left, and the two sides were tied at 107. Westbrook broke through with the ball, attracted the defense and then passed it to Aaron Gordon who was ambushing outside the three-point line.

The basketball drew a perfect arc and hit the net. Gordon used a three-pointer to help the Nuggets win.

01 Sudden bad news

On May 30, 2024, Gordon's life was completely torn apart by a piece of news. His older brother, Drew Gordon, died in a car accident in Portland at the age of 33.

Drew is not only an athlete who once pursued his basketball dream - he participated in the NBA draft and played 9 NBA regular season games for the 76ers - he is also Gordon's best friend and life mentor.

My brother left behind not only his unfinished basketball dream, but also his wife Angela and three young sons: 12-year-old Jayden, 5-year-old Zayn, and 2-year-old Brody. The eldest son, Jayden, was holding a basketball and waiting for his father to teach him new moves, but instead the police rang the doorbell.

When the bad news came, Gordon was with his teammate Porter Jr. After learning the news, he flew to Portland without hesitation and brought his brother's family to live with him in Denver.

02 Transformation from NBA star to "temporary father"

The NBA star's single apartment suddenly had three "little ancestors", and the pace of life changed completely. Picking up the children from school and telling bedtime stories have become the new daily routine of this "macho man" on the court.

Gordon convinced his sister-in-law Angela to move the children to Denver so that he could better care for them. He even gave up his vacation plans for the All-Star Weekend and chose to stay in Denver to be with his nephews.

Nephew Jayden, who is far away in New Mexico, has not been ignored. Gordon makes video calls every week to check his nephew's shooting form.

Sister-in-law Angela expressed gratitude: "To outsiders, he is NBA star Gordon. But to us, he is the best uncle and friend, and the light that appears in our darkest moments."

03 No. 32 jersey: fighting side by side with his brother

In memory of his brother, Gordon changed his jersey number from No. 50 to the No. 32 that Drew once wore in the new season. The number 32 has special meaning to the Gordon family - his father, Ed, also wore No. 32 when he played at San Diego State University.

When asked about the reason for the number change, Gordon pointed to the sky: "Now every rebound I grab is my brother's."

Former teammate Porter Jr. recalled that during one training, Gordon blocked him three consecutive shots, and suddenly said with red eyes: "Drew taught this trick." For Gordon, Drew is not only his brother, but also his spiritual mentor.

After arriving in Denver from Orlando, Gordon built a private training gym, where he would train hard most of the time every offseason, and his brother Drew was by his side.

04 A ray of light in the darkness

In Game 4 of the first round of the playoffs, after Gordon beat the Clippers with a stunning putback dunk, he received a voice message from his nephew Zayn in the locker room: "Uncle! Brody and I painted your dunk on the wall!" In the background, Brody's babyish voice imitated: "Dunk! Dunk!" Gordon laughed so hard that he could hardly hold his phone.

Although the children were not able to witness this fatal moment because they had to catch a flight, they shared the joy through mobile video in the car.

In G1 of the Western Conference semifinals, the two children finally witnessed their uncle's incredible kill on the spot, making up for their previous regrets.

Someone asked Gordon how he could switch between the role of a professional player and a "temporary father". He twirled the family ring on his ring finger and revealed that Drew's last text message before his death asked him to teach Jayden to practice free throws. For him, taking care of his brother's family is not only a responsibility, but also an inheritance of love.

05 Basketball and the inheritance of life

Today, there are two photos on the children's desks: on the left is Drew kissing the trophy when the University won the championship, and on the right is Gordon holding them to celebrate the victory.

Gordon often said to his nephews: "Remember, when you hear the 'bang bang' dribbling sound - that is your dad, your uncle, and the God of Basketball, who are loving you at the same time."

This season, Gordon turned his longing for him into motivation on the court. His three-point shooting percentage increased from 29% to an astonishing 43.6%, and his free throw shooting percentage also increased from 65.8% to 81%.

In the G1 game between the Nuggets and the Thunder, Gordon scored 22 points and 14 rebounds. At the critical moment, he received an assist from Westbrook and hit the game-winning three-pointer. This is also his second winning goal in the playoffs this season.

Today, two photos are placed side by side on the children's desks: on the left is Drew kissing the trophy when the university won the championship, and on the right is Gordon holding his nephews to celebrate the victory.

Gordon’s basketball story continues. The playoffs are fiercely fought, and every victory is the best memorial to my brother. Putting on the No. 32 jersey, he seemed to feel that Drew was still by his side: "Wearing the same number as him means that he is always by my side and supporting me behind me, just like he is always in front of me."