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Should Nuggets Swiss Army Knife Get LA Olympics Consideration?

Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (32) during Denver Nuggets Media Day

Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon hasn’t had his typical summer.

Usually a fun-loving lighthearted guy, he’s had to grieve the loss of his brother. A former NBA player himself, Drew Gordon passed away on May 30 in a vehicular accident. The tragedy hasn’t taken away the high-flyer’s smile, but it has obviously weighed heavily on him. He’s even went so far as to change his jersey number from No. 50 to No. 32 in honor of his big bro.

Should Nuggets Swiss Army Knife Aaron Gordon Get LA Olympics Consideration?

If Gordon had gotten the chance to play for Team USA as he expected, it might have provided him with a bit of extra solace, or at least a distraction. Players often say the basketball court is their sanctuary; their safe space. He probably could’ve used that as much as anyone not named Andrew Wiggins or RJ Barrett this offseason.

To that point, Wiggins’ father (Mitchell Wiggins) lost a lengthy battle with an undisclosed illness earlier this month. In March, Barrett’s younger brother (Nathan Barrett) fell victim to an undisclosed illness as well. Unfortunately for Gordon, he “was asked about playing for Team USA, then the call never came around. So there was a little bit of salt there.”

Taking to Twitter to clarify the comments he made during the Nuggets’ Media Day, Gordon relays that “after (Denver) beat the (Golden State) Warriors in the Bay, (Warriors and USA Basketball head coach) Steve Kerr asked if I wanted to play on the USA team… (I don’t know) bro.”

Gordon then issued a fiery statement about wanting to play in the 2028 Olympics, which will be hosted by Los Angeles. “I got goals,” the San Jose native says.

“Don’t care if you want to see me fail.”

You Can’t Blame Him

As a player who isn’t really known for his scoring punch or playmaking, many question if Gordon is being realistic. To that point, in a vacuum, there are likely multiple forwards who would be picked over him. However, with Derrick White and Jrue Holiday making the Olympic team this summer, he can’t be blamed for thinking he has a chance.

Like White or Holiday, Gordon’s impact can’t really be measured with a box score. He’ll rarely lead the team in scoring. He probably won’t be their primary facilitator. He simply does what it takes for his team to win, particularly at the defensive end.

What Might The LA Roster Look Like?

The Team USA roster in 2028 projects to be a fair bit younger than they were this year. This is primarily because 39-year-old LeBron James and 36-year-old Stephen Curry have most likely played in their last Olympic Games. Kevin Durant has left the door open, but he’ll be nearly 40 years old the next go-around.

In this hypothetical, let’s say that Durant tries to win a historic fifth gold medal with the U.S. men’s national team. Let’s also say that Gordon indeed made the cut. What would the potential roster look like?

PG: Devin Booker, Tyrese Haliburton

SG: Anthony Edwards, Donovan Mitchell

SF: Kevin Durant, Jaylen Brown

PF: Jayson Tatum, Paolo Banchero, Aaron Gordon

C: Anthony Davis, Bam Adebayo, Chet Holmgren

Frankly, it’s hard to see Gordon making the cut.

The Competition Is Steep

Unlike Jayson Tatum or Paolo Banchero, who are superb scorers, Gordon isn’t focused on getting points. That’s to his benefit as it makes him someone that scoring-minded teammates want to play with. The problem is that there’s so much depth in the frontcourt.

Unfortunately for Gordon, players like Durant, Tatum, Banchero, Jaylen Brown, Anthony Davis, Bam Adebayo, and Chet Holmgren are just more talented. So, he would have to hope that Durant passed up the chance to go to LA. If one of Tatum or Brown soured on the opportunity due to their experiences with Kerr and USA Basketball director Grant Hill, respectively, that would help.

Yet, he might still have to contend with players like Zion Williamson or Evan Mobley for a spot. Kyle Kuzma, an underrated offensive player, is hoping to make the team. Cooper Flagg, the projected 2025 No. 1 pick, will probably be in the conversation. By 2028, even forwards A.J. Dybantsa and Cameron Boozer —at the top of the class in the 2025 ESPN 100 —could make enough noise.

Gordon making the team isn’t impossible, but he’ll have steep competition.

Quenton S Albertie

Quenton S Albertie

Quenton Albertie, a native of Ft. Hood, TX, is a credentialed media member with work featured on SLAM Magazine, Sports Illustrated, USA TODAY and other major publications. Currently residing in Atlanta, GA, Albertie’s favorite teams are the Cleveland Cavaliers and Denver Broncos.

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