Drew Gordon, a former professional basketball player and the older brother of Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon, died in a car crash Thursday afternoon in Clackamas County, Ore., according to local authorities. He was 33.
A preliminary investigation carried out by the Clackamas County Sheriff’s office indicated that Gordon, who was driving three-wheeled Vanderhall, crossed over the center line and collided with a GMC pickup truck. The driver of the GMC and a passenger were transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after the two-vehicle crash. Gordon died at the scene.
No arrests were made, and impairment did not appear to be a factor, local authorities said, but the investigation of the crash was ongoing as of Friday afternoon.
Gordon often attended his brother’s games in Denver, where Aaron Gordon won an NBA championship in 2023. Drew played NCAA basketball at UCLA and New Mexico, then went on to compete professionally in the U.S. and abroad. He briefly played for the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2014-15 season.
“The Denver Nuggets organization is devastated to learn about the tragic passing of Drew Gordon,” the team said in a statement. “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. Our hearts are with Aaron and the Gordon family during this extremely difficult time.”
Drew was living in Ukraine, playing for BC Budivelnyk Kyiv, when the threat of a Russian invasion in 2022 forced him to leave the country with his wife and children, according to a by ESPN’s Marc J. Spears. Drew went on to play in Japan later that year before retiring from basketball in July 2023. Throughout his career, he also had stints in France, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sardinia, Serbia and Turkey.
