Aaron Gordon has supplied two of essentially the most dramatic moments up to now within the NBA playoffs.
These last-second heroics got here as no shock to those that know the previous Archbishop Mitty Excessive star the perfect.
“Aaron has had so much success on every level he has played at, but seeing him thrive in the NBA as a teammate fills you with overwhelming pride,” Mitty coach Tim Kennedy mentioned. “Especially knowing he keeps improving every year in multiple facets of his game.”
“That’s my best friend,” added former Mitty teammate Brandon Abajelo.
Gordon has already completed fairly a bit in his 11-year NBA profession. He’s a two-time Slam Dunk Contest runner-up – some would say a snubbed two-time winner – and gained a championship with the Denver Nuggets in 2023.
However Gordon’s status as a participant has reached a brand new high-water mark this postseason. His penchant for coming by means of in key moments has secured a number of wins for Denver.
Aaron Gordon (32) of the Denver Nuggets grabs a unfastened ball seconds earlier than Jamal Murray (27) calls a timeout to stop a jump-ball scenario from Isaiah Hartenstein (55) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) of the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder throughout the fourth quarter of the Nuggets’ 121-119 win at Paycom Middle in Oklahoma Metropolis, Oklahoma on Monday, Could 5, 2025. The Nuggets took a 1-0 Western Convention semifinal lead with their win. (Photograph by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Submit)
On April 26, his buzzer-beating putback dunk – the primary in NBA playoff historical past – secured a pivotal Sport 4 win for the Nuggets, night their first-round sequence with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Then on Monday in Oklahoma Metropolis, his nook 3-pointer within the waning seconds completed off Denver’s comeback from a 14-point deficit, securing a 121-119 win over the Thunder in Sport 1 of the Western Convention semifinals.
By way of all of it, Gordon has been the identical man, say those that knew him throughout his days in San Jose at Mitty. Now, it’s only a matter of extra individuals taking discover.
“It’s been crazy,” Abajelo mentioned on Thursday. “It looks like there’s been so many nice, singular moments occurring these days. He deserves stuff like that. The work that he put in has all the time been very fixed, and it’s cool to see all of it coming collectively within the greatest moments.
“I mean, his shooting this year has been crazy consistent. His form is looking a lot smoother. Crazy putback dunks and game-winners, those are the types of things that I feel like you can never plan those. But they just happen to you when you put in the work.”
Gordon, who transformed a warehouse into a house that incorporates a full basketball half courtroom, has made a behavior of training 3-pointers late into the evening or early within the morning. It’s paid off, as a profession 33.1% 3-point shooter has transformed 43.6% of his makes an attempt this season.
“I thought winning an NBA championship would be one of the things he is most known for, but his dunk to win the game with time expiring will go down as one of the most iconic finishes in NBA history,” Kennedy mentioned. “Also, winning another playoff game with a 3-point shot is special because it shows how much he has worked to improve that part of his game.”
Gordon has been known as the soul of the Nuggets by Denver interim coach David Adelman. Celebrity heart Nikola Jokic added, “He most likely doesn’t get as a lot respect as he deserves. However I believe he doesn’t want it.”
He undoubtedly has it from those that imply essentially the most to him. The Mitty basketball neighborhood was rocked by the tragic and surprising loss of life of Gordon’s older brother, Drew, final Could.
Since then, Gordon has needed to decide up the items alongside together with his household and people closest to him. Gordon modified his quantity from 50 to 32, which he and Drew wore at Mitty and Drew sported within the skilled ranks.
He’s taken on a task in serving to elevate Drew’s two younger sons, Zayne and Brody, who accompanied him to his postgame press convention on Monday after the profitable basket he made with – sure – 3.2 seconds on the clock.
Nothing can fully exchange the void in his life left by Drew’s passing. However basketball, his family and friends are serving to carry him by means of it daily.
“It’s been a hard year with Drew passing and everything,” Abajelo mentioned. “So I’m happy that all this good stuff is happening again.”
Mitty basketball head coach Tim Kennedy, at left, Aaron Gordon and Gordon’s mom, Shelly Davis, react to a spotlight reel of Gordon’s time enjoying basketball at Mitty, as Gordon’s basketball jersey is retired throughout a basketball recreation halftime ceremony at Archbishop Mitty Excessive Faculty Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, in San Jose, Calif. (Photograph by Jim Gensheimer)
Abajelo and Gordon have been associates since they had been 12 years outdated and performed collectively on Mitty’s varsity crew. Gordon was the linchpin in a prolific stretch for the Monarchs that included two CIF Division II state championships and an in depth loss to Mater Dei within the first CIF Open Division state championship recreation 12 years in the past.
“He was just so much better than everybody at that level that it made the game so much easier for everybody,” Abajelo recalled. “Put us on more of a national presence in terms of the games that we’re playing. He definitely elevated it. He was the ultimate cheat code out there. Just a man amongst boys.”
Their friendship has endured since their commencement in 2013, they usually’ve been collectively by means of the excessive and lows since then. Abajelo was there when Gordon gained his first NBA title in 2023 and has been there for him within the tough final 12 months since Drew’s loss of life.
“What makes him special is he’s a very chill guy,” Abajelo mentioned. “He has a really pure, good perspective on life, understands what’s necessary, what’s not necessary, the place to place vitality. Only a sort, understanding man. When his coach mentioned he’s the soul of the crew, it’s as a result of he’s a soulful individual, a aware individual.
“The type of person that can have very intricate, existential type of conversations, and he’s interested in that type of stuff. He’s a very grounded, chill guy throughout all the crazy fame.”
Archbishop Mitty’s Aaron Gordon (32) gestures after defeating Sheldon throughout the CIF Northern California Regional Basketball Championship Boys Open Division recreation at Sleep Prepare Area in Sacramento, Calif. on Saturday, March 16, 2013. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Employees)
These conversations have continued as Gordon navigates a brand new actuality within the wake of shedding his brother.
“It was terrible and just completely gutting,” Abajelo mentioned. “Everyone was just heartbroken by it. For me, it’s been just God-awful. One of the worst things I’ve ever gone through. So it’s been hard. It sucks, but you try to do your absolute best and be there and try to keep it all together.”
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Issues won’t ever be the identical, however these round Gordon are dedicated to serving to one another by means of the challenges dealing with them transferring ahead.
“When there’s high levels of grief, a lot of people try to see if they can propose a solution for somebody,” Abajelo mentioned. “But there’s no solution. So it’s just about being there and being present and trying to keep spirits higher than they are.”
The constructive moments that Gordon has authored just lately have helped with that mission. Gordon’s household and associates have endured a lot unhappiness and ache within the final 12 months.
Each little little bit of pleasure helps.
And throughout the previous few weeks, there was lots to go round.
“To have his coach call him ‘the soul of the team’ is one of the most impressive parts of who Aaron is,” Kennedy mentioned. “I couldn’t be more happy or proud of him.”
