“Rest in Peace”: Damian Lillard & NBA World Devastated by Aaron Gordon’s Family’s Soul Crushing Loss

It’s not too often that we see two brothers starting their NBA careers in the same year. But only a decade ago, Aaron Gordon and his older brother Drew Gordon achieved that feat, creating an unforgettable memory. Supporting each other through thick and thin, they shared a special bond despite their five-year age difference. But having navigated through the highs and lows of basketball and life together through the years, Aaron is now faced with arguably the toughest low: carrying on without Drew, who passed away on Thursday in a car accident in Portland, Oregon, at age 33.

“It’s been a lifelong goal for us to play on the same stage at the highest level. Today, even though it’s preseason, it’s being accomplished. It’s a huge accomplishment for us and a huge goal that we’ve been able to reach.” Drew’s words from 10 years ago, after he and Aaron got a chance to share an NBA court for the first time, won everyone’s hearts. But the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office’s words from Thursday night have broken everyone’s hearts.

Per the Albuquerque Journal, the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office reported the accident, writing, “S. Springwater Rd is CLOSED between S Bakers Ferry Rd & S Hattan Rd due to a fatal crash. The roadway will be closed for several hours while the investigation is underway.” As the Sheriff’s department informed Drew Gordan’s family and friends, his agent Calvin Andrews confirmed the tragedy to ESPN Andscape. After that, it was only a matter of time before his brother’s team paid tribute to Drew.

“The Denver Nuggets organization is devastated to learn about the tragic passing of Drew Gordon,” they wrote. Survived by his wife and three children – and of course, Aaron Gordan, their sister Elisabeth Gordon, and their parents – the Nuggets post added, “Drew was far too young to leave this world, but his legacy will forever live on through his three beautiful children and all of his loved ones. Our hearts are with Aaron and the Gordon family during this extremely difficult time.”

Speaking of Aaron Gordon, he is never one to post much on social media. However, one of his most recent posts on Instagram was a birthday wish to his brother from July 12, 2022. It was a picture of Drew holding Aaron back when they were kids, and the younger Gordon brother wrote a simple message: “Happy BDay @xtragordonary32 !! 🎂❤️🥳”

Although not as popular as Aaron, Drew was still a standout player who began his career at UCLA. He received many offers from blue blood programs like North Carolina, Duke, and Arizona. In his successful years as a Bruin, Gordon was elected to be transferred to New Mexico for junior season. Then, as a Lobo, he averaged 13.4 points and 10.8 rebounds each game in the 2 seasons he played there, which ultimately led him to be on the NBA’s radar.

In 2012, he went undrafted yet managed to play for the Dallas Mavericks in the Summer League. From then on, Drew hopped around different foreign leagues and the G League before getting signed by the Philadelphia 76ers, the same year his brother got drafted. During the 2014-15 season, he played 9 games for the 76ers before he was ultimately waived in December.

After getting waived, Drew continued to play for another decade, most of the time participating in foreign leagues in Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine, and Italy. One key highlight for him from one such league was becoming an All-Star in 2015 in France. However, one extremely scary moment came in 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine. At the time, he was one of three former Lobos competing in the country’s highest professional basketball league.

Playing for BC Budivelnyk Kyiv, he wanted to fulfill his one-year contract with the team instead of leaving the country when Russia started the invasion. But the US Embassy in Ukraine emailed his wife, saying, “Angela, your husband needs to leave Ukraine, or Kyiv, at the very least!” The family of five caught a flight back to the US, and Aaron Gordon recalled, “My advice to [Drew] was get your family out of a war that you don’t need to fight.”

After making it back to home soil, Drew Gordon opened up about the entire situation, too. He said, 

“My family’s safety is first. I am going to make sure that they’re safe. And if I have to miss a game, if I have to get fined, so be it.’” 2022 was the last year he played professional basketball, hanging up his boots in 2023.

Besides sports, Drew was known for his warm personality, passionate heart, and dedication to his family. No matter how small, he has a massive legacy he has left behind that will continue to live forever. Everyone is showering his family with words of respect, including Damian Lillard.

Prayers for Aaron Gordon and his family

Prayers from around the world are coming in for Aaron and the entire family. The NBA world united to do the same, starting with Damian Lillard, who shared a 10-year-old picture of Drew wearing a Sixers jersey, writing, “Rest up bra.” Not many are aware, but Lillard and Drew Gordon were both alumni of Oakland High School, even though Lillard wasn’t invited to play for the AAU Oakland Soldiers despite being a top scorer from the very beginning. During his time in the AAU circuit, the team included Brandon Jennings and Matt Simpkins, among many others. Lillard was yet to step up and join the NBA when Drew Gordon committed to UCLA.

As news about this tragedy made waves online, fans all over the internet showered their respect for the deceased player. They pointed out the bond the two brothers shared and prayed for their family. Comments like “Oh, may he rest in peace” were shared among all the fans, hoping the Gordon family would get the strength to deal with this loss.

One fan rued not just Drew Gordon’s passing and its effect on Aaron but also the Denver Nuggets’ season. With the defending champions crashing out of the playoffs earlier this month, they wrote, “Worst year to be a Nuggets forward. They have had a rough month. Praying for AG.” It wasn’t just fans who paid their respects. People who knew the 33-year-old personally reminisced, too.

One of them commented, “Aww, this is sad AF. I went to UNM with Drew, and he was such a good guy. Always had a smile on his face and really brightened the room. RIP Drew. You were a real one.” Seeing as he spent the majority of his professional career overseas, he was bound to generate a large fanbase all around the world. One of his memorable yet short stints was in Serbia when he played for Partizan Belgrade. A fan wrote,

“Remember him when he had a short (but impactful) stint playing in Partizan 10 years ago. Great player and a great guy. Still super young, terrible news.” During his time in Serbia, Gordon played just over 10 games during his 1-year contract with the team. He averaged 9.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

Although Drew is no longer with his brother, Aaron will always have the memory of starting their NBA career together to look back on, and he will cherish that and several others forever.

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