Drew Gordon - a former NBA player and brother of Denver Nuggets star Aaron Gordon - has sadly died at the age of 33.
As reported by TMZ, Drew passed away following a car accident in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday (May 30). Drew’s agent, Calvin Andrews, also confirmed the fatal crash in statement to ESPN.
On X (formerly Twitter), the Denver Nuggets paid tribute to the late NBA star, writing in a statement: “The Denver Nuggets organization is devastated to learn about the tragic passing of Drew Gordon.
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.”
The tribute continued: “Our hearts are with Aaron and the Gordon family during this extremely difficult time.”
Gordon's journey in the world of basketball began during his youth in California, where he excelled as a star athlete. His prowess on the court earned him prestigious All-American honors while attending Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose.
According to CBS Sports, Drew embarked on his collegiate career at UCLA, where he spent two notable years as part of the UCLA Bruins men's basketball program. Later, he transferred to New Mexico for his junior season, becoming a pivotal member of the New Mexico Lobos men's basketball team for two seasons.
Despite consistently impressive performances, Drew did not secure a spot in the 2012 NBA draft, as reported by the outlet. Nonetheless, he continued to pursue a successful basketball career.
Following his collegiate years, Drew entered into professional basketball, initially playing for the Dallas Mavericks in the Summer League. Subsequently, he navigated between various foreign leagues and the G League.
Drew's professional journey led him to compete in basketball leagues across several countries, including France, Italy, Turkey, Serbia, Lithuania, Japan, Russia, Ukraine, and Poland.
In the 2014-15 season, Drew joined the NBA team Philadelphia 76ers, where he played nine games during his tenure with the team.
Drew Gordon is survived by his wife, Angela, and three children.
Our thoughts go out to Gordon's family, friends, and fans at this time.
