Aaron Gordon Says His Denver Nuggets Teammates Were There ‘Every Step of the Way’ After His Brother’s Death

Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon is opening up about the support he received from his teammates after the tragic death of his brother, Drew.

Aaron, 29, spoke to reporters for the first time since Drew’s untimely death during the Nuggets’ media day on Thursday, Sept. 26, revealing that the team has been there for him “every step of the way” after his brother’s fatal car accident in May.

“Without getting too much into it, I always leaned on my brother,” Aaron began during a press conference. “And sometimes the relationships that I had outside of my own family were not as deep, and now that I understand that you can’t take any relationship for granted.”

The player went on to praise his teammates for their unwavering support as he grieved during the offseason. “These guys have been there for me every step of the way,” he said, revealing that his Nuggets teammates attended Drew’s funeral services.

“These guys have been like really, really like super supportive for me and I love them for that,” Aaron continued. “These guys have really developed into people I would call my own brothers. These are my brothers.”

Drew was 33 years old when he was killed on May 30 after he collided with a pickup truck in Portland, Ore. His agent, Calvin Andrews, first confirmed the news to ESPN at the time.

He played for the Philadelphia 76ers before signing with an international league. He is survived by his wife Angela and their three children: Jayden, 12, Zayne, 5, and Brody, 2.

In August, Aaron announced he will wear a different jersey number with the Nuggets this season to honor his brother. The power forward swapped his No. 50 jersey for No. 32 — the same number Drew wore.

After Drew’s death, the Nuggets shared a touching tribute to the father of three.

In a statement, the team said, “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.”

They added, “Our hearts are with Aaron and the Gordon family during this extremely difficult time.”