Aaron Gordon has been one of Denver's unsung heroes all season. Now, he has helped lead them to the brink of a title.
The Nuggets forward has stepped up in big moments throughout the playoffs, most recently in his team's NBA Finals series against the Heat. The 27-year-old exploded for 27 points in Game 4 to lead his team to victory and move within one win of a championship.
Before he arrived in Denver, Gordon was most known for his dunking ability. He finished as the runner-up in both the 2016 and 2020 NBA Dunk Contests. However, he has evolved into a versatile and productive forward — and he's been an integral part of the Nuggets' run to the Finals.
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The Sporting News has you covered with everything you need to know about Gordon, including his career stats, contract details and personal information.
Aaron Gordon trade details
- Nuggets received: Aaron Gordon, Gary Clark
- Magic received: Gary Harris, RJ Hampton, 2025 first-round pick
Gordon was traded to Denver on March 25, 2021 along with his teammate Gary Clark. In return, Orlando received Gary Harris, RJ Hampton and a future first round pick.
Despite spending years as one of the best players on a struggling Magic team, Gordon quickly embraced his limited role on a talented Nuggets team that featured future MVP Nikola Jokic, talented guard Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr.
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Aaron Gordon contract details
After landing Gordon and giving up a decent haul, the Nuggets couldn't afford to let him leave. And so during the 2021 offseason, Gordon signed a four-year, $86,640,001 contract that will keep him in Denver until 2025.
The contract was fully guaranteed, and it gives him an average annual salary of $21,660,000. He will make $19,690,909 for his efforts during the 2022-23 season, not included any playoff-related bonuses.
(All figures courtesy of Spotrac.)
| Year | Base Salary |
| 2022-23 | $19,690,909 |
| 2023-24 | $21,266,182 |
| 2024-25 | $22,841,455 |
| 2025-26* | $22,841,455 |
* - Gordon has a player option in his contract for the 2025-26 season
Aaron Gordon height and weight
- Height: 6-8
- Weight: 235 pounds
- Experience: Nine seasons
Part of what makes Gordon special is that he plays bigger than he's listed, as evident in Game 4 of the NBA Finals when he bullied the Heat front court. Against any mismatch, Gordon aggressively attacked and made Miami pay for any mismatch.
Gordon was born in San Jose, Cal. on Sept. 16, 1995. He attended Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose before going on to play his college ball at Arizona. In his lone season with the Wildcats, he was named one of 30 finalists for the Naismith College Player of the Year award and was selected to the All-Pac-12 First Team.
He was selected by the Magic with the fourth overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. His production was lackluster over the first few years of his NBA career, but he drew nationwide attention with his performance in the 2016 NBA Dunk Contest. He went on to finish second behind Zach LaVine.
Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon delivered an unforgettable performance 💪
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 3, 2020
2016 NBA Dunk Contest - 7pm ET on NBA TV! pic.twitter.com/NMvBOrsXBI
His best season in Orlando came in 2017-18, when he averaged 17.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. However, in 2021, he was sent to the Nuggets at the trade deadline.
