Aaron Gordon delivered one of the biggest shots of his career in the Denver Nuggets’ 121-119 Game 1 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, but he was quick to credit the team’s unity and preparation in the postgame press conference.
“It’s nice to have it all culminate in a game-winner,” Gordon said, referencing his critical three-pointer in the final minutes.
He emphasized that the shot came from the team’s chemistry and highlighted Russell Westbrook’s pass: “Russ making a great play and finding me in transition and in rhythm—on time, on target.”
Gordon acknowledged the growth in his jump shot, attributing it to years of repetition and dedication.
When asked about the team’s mindset coming off a grueling seven-game series while facing a rested No. 1 seed, Gordon underlined the Nuggets’ refusal to miss their opportunity.
“We just didn’t want to miss the moment… We knew if we waited it may be too late,” he said.
The forward also addressed Denver’s locker room dynamics, echoing Coach David Adelman’s description of him as the “soul of the team.”
“I think a lot of guys out there are leaders,” Gordon said. “We have really high-character guys and guys that want to win—and guys that play for the right reason.”
He agreed with Adelman’s view that Denver had evolved into an honest locker room, citing the team’s ability to have tough conversations rooted in “experience, knowledge, wisdom, and compassion.”
Gordon also credited that accountability for allowing the coaching staff to focus more on strategy: “It allows DA to just focus on the Xs and Os and some of the pep.”
Speaking on the Thunder’s third-quarter surge, Gordon said Denver’s familiarity with adversity helped them maintain composure.
“We’ve been through a lot, this group, and we’ve come from behind and won in plenty of games,” he said. “We know that we’ve been in that position before and we can do it.”
Reflecting on their championship experience, Gordon said that knowing “what it takes” separates them from younger playoff teams.
“We know what it takes to get to that mountaintop, to get over the hump,” he stated.
When asked about his personal shooting work, Gordon revealed he shoots “pretty much every day,” often at his own gym.
On whether he knew the game-winner would fall, Gordon replied, “I knew it wasn’t a miss. That’s good.”
Game 2 is set for Wednesday night in Oklahoma City, with the defending champions holding a 1-0 series edge.
