Aaron Gordon once said, “What I miss most about San Jose? I miss my family. I miss my house. I miss my backyard.” For the NBA star, the comfort of home, the grounding force of family, is where his heart lies. It’s where countless memories were made, where Gordon once dreamed big and found peace. “That’s my happy place. Anytime I need to go somewhere, that’s where I go.” These merely simple words speak volumes about the ‘family foundation’ around his life.

Growing up, it wasn’t just about the game of basketball—that backyard, the essence of those early days, of the boy who played there, remains embedded in the man Aaron Gordon has become today. So now, before we say anything about his family, let’s get deeper into his story and know more about his loved ones.

Where is Aaron Gordon from? Does he have a mixed ethnicity?

Aaron Gordon is one of those hoopsters who uses his platform not only for their games but also for embracing the complexities of being biracial. He was born in San Jose, California, which makes his nationality American, but his story is much deeper than just his birthplace. Growing up witnessing Silicon Valley, it’s not a surprise that he was constantly surrounded by innovation, technology, and fierce competition—multiple factors. Aaron’s story was pretty intense, with a pinch of basketball too.

To start with the Nuggets power forward’s family, let’s begin with his dad, Ed Gordon, who comes from the black community. Ed had a strong influence on Aaron’s basketball life. He was a former athlete who hooped and played football at San Diego State. Later, he played briefly in the NFL with the New England Patriots. So how will his kids not have this athletic love? Yet, being his son’s role model, it was Aaron’s mother, Shelly Davis Gordon, who offered him another unique perspective.

Shelly comes from the white community and was one of the few women in Silicon Valley during her time, working as a product marketer in the tech industry. This environment was far away from the world of sport, and Aaron, as a young boy, noticed something striking in professional circles. “It was all white men. That’s not right,” he once reflected on his childhood visits to her workplace.

Shelly’s career and experiences shaped the hoopster’s understanding of diversity and inclusion at a young age. “She would bring the computers home for us, and we would take them apart,” Gordon further recalled.

It looks like his mother wasn’t just involved in his life in the traditional sense; she introduced him to the world of technology. But it wasn’t just about tech; it was about the representation of different races and genders in spaces where they were typically excluded.

She often worked on diversity and inclusion boards, pushing for representation, especially for people of color and women in tech. For Aaron, growing up with a mother who fought those battles was transformative. Now, this is where his values of uplifting others come from.

But, other than tech, the Gordon family has always been a competitive bunch. While Shelly taught them about tech, their father would often challenge his children to friendly games of basketball in their backyard. Apart from Aaron, the Gordon family has two more kids.

An older son Drew and a daughter Elise who are all accomplished athletes in their own right. Drew played college basketball for the University of New Mexico (before a brief stint in the NBA), and Elise went on to play for Harvard’s women’s basketball team. The Gordons had grown up in an environment where competition was encouraged but tempered with love and support.

“It gets a little tense because we all want to surpass one another, but we are also always at one another’s sporting events supporting one another,” Elise once recalled.

So now you know that Aaron’s upbringing in this competitive household wasn’t just about winning; it was about pushing each other to be better. However, his ethnicity and roots are a unique mix. His father’s side of the family brought with it a rich cultural history, including the claim that his paternal great-grandfather was a 7-foot-tall Osage Indian.

With everything combined, their life was deeply challenging, being a biracial family in a predominantly white neighborhood. It made little Aaron see the world through a different lens—“I was probably 10 years old, and what I noticed later, as I reflect, it was all white men.”

However, his family’s story is one of love, support, and a relentless drive to break barriers—whether in sports or the tech industry. As Aaron continues to carve his path, he carries the lessons learned from his parents and, as a result, today he is doing something very helpful.

How is Aaron Gordon and his family impacting the tech space with opportunities?

Back in 2018, when Aaron Gordon used to play for the Orlando Magic, he and his family decided to open an organization named the Gordon Family Giving Foundation. Their mission was clear: to help the underserved and underrepresented young students with STEM-based education opportunities. The foundation aimed to change the narrative for these kids and give them a pathway to success beyond traditional career paths. “We’re just trying to show these kids there’s a different pathway,” he shared.

A year later, Aaron and his mother, Shelly, made it happen. With her 35 years of experience as a computer scientist and engineer, they launched CodeOrlando in 2019. The program was a free four-week summer camp that immerses high school students in coding, robotics, and nanotechnology. These students, mainly from underserved communities in Orlando, often lack access to such resources. “We really wanted to do something that was more lasting than just a giveaway,” said Shelly, speaking about their vision.

The CodeOrlando program has not only introduced kids to technology but also provided hands-on experience, group projects, and internships. Over time, they partnered with the University of Central Florida to expand this initiative. Graduates of CodeOrlando have gone on to work in the tech industry and return to mentor new participants. The Gordon Family Giving Foundation is leaving a lasting impact, proving that access to education can break generational barriers.

Through the Gordon Family Giving Foundation and CodeOrlando, Aaron and his mum Shelly are not just offering opportunities; they’re building a bridge to a better future. However, with this, it’s time to look at the next phase of our story, his religion.

Does Aaron Gordon follow any religion?

To answer that simply, yes, Aaron Gordon’s spiritual journey took a transformative turn in September 2023, during his visit to the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham temple in Robbinsville, New Jersey. The visit was more than just a cultural experience; it became a moment of profound introspection for the NBA star. He once shared his understanding of spirituality evolved beyond the hoop.

“What it was, uh, spirituality, was really like a philosophy for basketball, but it was actually bigger than basketball. It was more about life,” he explained. The visit to Akshardham, with its serene environment and deep-rooted cultural significance, emphasized the connection between unity and spirituality.

Despite achieving material success—buying a home, helping his family financially, and reaching the heights of the NBA—Aaron Gordon still felt a deep emptiness. “I got my mom out of debt, my grandmother did, I was able to allow my parents to retire, and then I still felt this emptiness inside.” His realization pushed him to seek validation not from external achievements, but from within.

For the hoopster, the pursuit of personal growth and character development has always been a priority. “Before basketball players, we’re people,” he said, emphasizing that growth as an individual is as crucial. Aaron Gordon knows that when the court is no longer in his future, it’s his inner growth and character that will guide him. He reflected on this, stating, “At the end of the day, the ball stops bouncing for me, and it’s going to lead to emptiness. But in that emptiness, I’m going to need to figure out again who I am.”

This shift in perspective has already begun to influence Aaron Gordon’s game. He has returned to the practices that keep him grounded, bringing a renewed focus, calmness, and poise to both his personal life and his play on the court.

Gordon remarked, “I think you guys are going to see a much more focused, calm, and poised person. It’s contagious.” His spiritual journey has become the foundation for not just his personal life but also his renewed approach to basketball.