Politics

Former NBA Player Dies Suddenly At 33

Published

7 months ago

May 31, 2024

Drew Gordon, a former Philadelphia 76ers power forward, died unexpectedly in Portland, Oregon on Thursday as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident, according to his statement by his agent and the Denver Nuggets, which counts his younger brother Aaron Gordon among their roster. ESPN also reported Gordon died at just 33 years old.

A standout former collegiate star at UCLA and New Mexico, Gordon missed the 2012 draft but eventually joined the Dallas Mavericks’ Summer League team not long after, according to CBS News. After several seasons overseas and in the G-league, Gordon earned a spot on the Philadelphia 76ers’ roster for the 2014-2015 season. He played in nine games before being released.

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As with many of his generation, the older Gordon benefited from an explosion of interest in European basketball leagues among talented players who didn’t make the NBA’s cut. Gordon ultimately played overseas for 10 additional seasons, the outlet added, joining Champagne Châlons-Reims of the French LNB Pro A for the 2015-2016 season, earning its weekly award for best player and participating in the 2015 LNB All Star Game. He had just announced his retirement in July of 2023 after 16 years on the court in college and professional leagues.

Aaron Gordon, a Nugget since 2021 and a member of the team’s championship squad in 2023, has not spoken out publicly about his brother’s death.

A native of San Jose, California, Gordon is survived by his wife, Angela, and three children.

He is the latest former professional athlete to die in a traffic accident in recent months. Former UFC fighter Geane Herrera, 33, died after an unexpected collision aboard his motorcycle in Tampa, Florida. Kelvin Kiptum, the Kenyan runner who recently set the world record for a near-sub two-hour marathon, was traveling in February with his coach through his home country when their car lost control and struck a tree, killing them both. Kiptum, who was behind the wheel, was just 24.