Aaron Gordon Reveals Nuggets Jersey Number Change in Video to Honor Late Brother Drew

Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon will wear No. 32 this season in honor of his late brother, Drew Gordon.

Gordon revealed the change Friday on Instagram in a video that showed him ripping open his No. 50 jersey to reveal the new number.

Drew Gordon died in a car accident at age 33 in May. He wore No. 32 while playing college basketball for New Mexico.

He averaged 10.8 rebounds per game through two seasons with the Lobos, ranking him fourth among all New Mexico players.

Drew Gordon also recorded 32 double-doubles for New Mexico, the sixth-most in program history.

He helped lead the Lobos to a Mountain West championship as a senior in 2011-12 while averaging 13.7 points and 11.1 rebounds.

The Nuggets first listed Aaron Gordon's switch to No. 32 on the team's official roster earlier this week.

Aaron Gordon wore No. 00 when he entered the league in 2014 as a first-round pick by the Orlando Magic.

He decided to change to No. 50 following his 2021 trade to the Nuggets to find a "fresh start" in Denver, per Katy Winge of Altitude Sports.

The number also referenced his eight 50-point efforts in the NBA slam dunk contest, which he has never won, per Winge.

The third jersey number of his NBA career isn't the only way Aaron Gordon will be honoring his late brother this season. Earlier this summer, the Nuggets forward shared on Instagram photos of a new tattoo inked with his brother's initials.

"Big bruh lives thru me," Aaron Gordon wrote on Instagram in June.

Aaron Gordon is heading into his 11th NBA season and his fifth in Denver. After averaging 13.9 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists last season, No. 32 is certain to remain a key part of the Nuggets' title hopes in 2025.