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Drew Gordon, former NBA player, died at the age of 33 in a suspected car accident

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The former basketball player played for the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2014/15 season

<p>Alex Nahorniak-Svenski/NBAE via Getty </p> <p> Drew Gordon” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/4qqllrXZMZcaGUBAQ8_VFw–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/people_218/aa09070ee5d99da2163be80f0a6b67e3″/></p> <p>Alex Nahorniak-Svenski/NBAE via Getty </p> <p> Drew Gordon” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/4qqllrXZMZcaGUBAQ8_VFw–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/people_218/aa09070ee5d99da2163be80f0a6b67e3″ class=”caas-img”/><button class=

Former NBA forward Drew Gordon, who is also the older brother of Aaron Gordon of the Denver Nuggets, has died at the age of 33.

In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Thursday, May 30, the Denver Nuggets shared a black-and-white snapshot of the Gordon brothers holding hands and walking in opposite directions.

“1990 – 2024 Drew Gordon,” the tribute read in all caps. “The Denver Nuggets organization is devastated to learn of the tragic passing of Drew Gordon. Drew was far too young to leave this world, but his legacy will live on forever through his three beautiful children and all of his loved ones.”

They added: “Our thoughts are with Aaron and the Gordon family at this extremely difficult time.”

Drew’s agent Calvin Andrews confirmed ESPN that the former basketball player died in a car crash in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday, May 30. Andrews and Portland police did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

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<p>Steven Freeman/NBAE via Getty</p> <p> Drew Gordon plays for the Delaware 87ers against the Westchester Knicks at the University of Delaware’s Frank Acierno Arena on December 28, 2014 in Westchester, New York.” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/Fzc3bPFUA52.WEbks.Ut.A–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTcwNTtoPTkxMA–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/people_218/8aa007cb387cec0e9fab0059a98eca6c”/></p> <p>Steven Freeman/NBAE via Getty</p> <p> Drew Gordon plays for the Delaware 87ers against the Westchester Knicks at the University of Delaware’s Frank Acierno Arena on December 28, 2014 in Westchester, New York.” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/Fzc3bPFUA52.WEbks.Ut.A–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTcwNTtoPTkxMA–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/people_218/8aa007cb387cec0e9fab0059a98eca6c” class=”caas-img”/></p></div> </div> </div> <div class=

Steven Freeman/NBAE via Getty

Drew Gordon playing for the Delaware 87ers plays against the Westchester Knicks at the University of Delaware’s Frank Acierno Arena on December 28, 2014 in Westchester, New York.

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Per CBS SportsDrew’s college career began at UCLA, where he spent two years with the UCLA Bruins basketball program. He then transferred to New Mexico for his junior season and played two seasons with the New Mexico Lobos basketball team.

Although he averaged at least 13 points and 10 rebounds in every game, Drew did not make the 2012 NBA Draft, according to the newspaper, but still had a successful basketball career.

CBS Sports reported that Drew then played for the Dallas Mavericks in the Summer League before moving between foreign leagues and the G League.

Yahoo! Sports also reported that Drew played in leagues in France, Italy, Turkey, Serbia, Lithuania, Japan, Russia, Ukraine and Poland.

He then played for the NBA team Philadelphia 76ers in the 2014–15 season, where he appeared in nine games.

<p>Igor Russak/NurPhoto via Getty</p> <p> Drew Gordon (centre) of Zenit St. Petersburg fights for the ball during the EuroCup Regular Season Round 5 basketball game between Zenit St. Petersburg and Tofas Bursa at Yubileyny Sports Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia, November 8, 2017.” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/fExnAENEEiLVT7lsuRSGjg–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTg0NA–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/people_218/e532380e355408adbc7ce2b142214a36″/></p> <p>Igor Russak/NurPhoto via Getty</p> <p> Drew Gordon (centre) of Zenit St. Petersburg fights for the ball during the EuroCup Regular Season Round 5 basketball game between Zenit St. Petersburg and Tofas Bursa at Yubileyny Sports Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia, November 8, 2017.” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/fExnAENEEiLVT7lsuRSGjg–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTg0NA–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/people_218/e532380e355408adbc7ce2b142214a36″ class=”caas-img”/></p></div> </div> </div> <div class=

Igor Russak/NurPhoto via Getty

Drew Gordon (center) of Zenit St. Petersburg vies for the ball during the EuroCup 5th round basketball game between Zenit St. Petersburg and Tofas Bursa at Yubileyny Sports Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia, November 8, 2017.

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Accordingly CBS SportsDrew continued to play professional basketball for nearly ten years after his time with the Philadelphia 76ers, spending most of his career abroad, earning All-Star honors in France in 2015 before retiring in 2023.

Drew’s last Instagram post, from April 26, showed him next to a snapshot of his brother Aaron with the caption, “Did you know Aaron Gordon’s brother was a G League star? The 6-foot-1 Drew Gordon played two seasons in the G and was a nightly double-double machine.”

The post also included slides of him playing basketball during his professional career.

On February 18, Drew also shared a carousel post to celebrate his wife Angela’s birthday.

Accordingly ESPNThe deceased athlete leaves behind Angela and three children.

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