Former UNM Lobo and UCLA Bruins power forward Drew Gordon, 33, tragically died in a car crash near Portland, Oregon. His agent, Calvin Williams, confirmed the news on Thursday evening.
Gordon, who hailed from San Jose, was known as the older brother of Denver Nuggets star forward Aaron Gordon.
The UNM Lobo basketball community is deeply saddened by his loss, marking the second former star they’ve mourned in recent months. Word of his passing had already spread widely among former teammates and friends in Albuquerque.
The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office in Oregon posted on X Thursday afternoon a traffic alert post reading,
“S. Springwater Rd is CLOSED between S Bakers Ferry Rd & S Hattan Rd due to a fatal crash. The roadway will be closed for several hours while the investigation is underway. Please avoid the area.”
It’s good to hear that close friends and family have been notified of Drew Gordon’s passing. It’s an important step in the grieving process for them to have the opportunity to come together and support one another during this difficult time.
It’s concerning that the sheriff’s office hasn’t returned calls for more information. In April, the basketball community also mourned the loss of former Lobo great Ruben Douglas, who passed away from an infection in Costa Rica at the age of 44.
Drew Gordon made significant contributions during his time with UNM, including being a first team All-Mountain West selection in the 2011-12 season.
He played a key role in the Lobos’ last NCAA Tournament win in 2012 before they lost in the second round. Those games were notably played in Portland.
Drew Gordon’s professional career spanned overseas and the G-League, but he also had a brief stint with the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers during the 2014-15 season. In nine games, he averaged 1.9 points and 2.0 rebounds in 7.9 minutes per game. His time in the NBA, though brief, was a notable part of his basketball journey.
Drew Gordon’s presence in Ukraine during the tense period of Russia’s invasion, along with fellow former Lobos Joe Furstinger and Troy Simons, highlighted the global reach of basketball.
Fortunately, Gordon managed to leave the country with his family before the attacks began. Later that summer, he participated in The Basketball Tournament (TBT) with The Enchantment, the UNM Lobo alumni team.
This tournament in 2022 marked his final appearance playing in the Pit.
