It’s been just three days since the 2025-26 NBA season began, and a lot has already happened. The off-court drama involving sports gambling aside, the on-court performances have been phenomenal. Victor Wembanyama, Luka Doncic, and Anthony Edwards all began the year with 40-point performances.
On Thursday night, Aaron Gordon decided to take it up a notch, scoring 50 against the Golden State Warriors. The Denver Nuggets man made 10 three-pointers in the game and missed just four of 21 shots on the night. Despite having one of the most efficient 50-point performances in NBA history, though, Gordon declined to take the game ball.
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Aaron Gordon postgame talking about his night – apparently the team offered him the game ball and he declined. Said he didn’t want to take that L home. pic.twitter.com/xyQbJ88ifw
— Katy Winge (@katywinge) October 24, 2025
“They’re asking if I wanted the game ball, and no, I don’t want the game ball,” Gordon told reporters. “Take the L home with me. No, thank you.” This showcases his winning mentality, and his following quotes made it even clearer.
“So this sucks, but it’s one game. It’s our first game. It’s a good team. It’s a really good team. It’s hard to win on the road. You’ve got to execute offensively and defensively down the stretch. So we’re going to reconvene, watch the film, and go back home and try and play better in our home opener.”
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Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon shoots against the Golden State Warriors. Mandatory Credit: Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images
Gordon wasn’t known as a shooter before, but he shot a whopping 43.6 percent from three-point range last season. For those who thought it was a fluke, making 10 out of 11 in the season-opener should be enough to shut them up. And while he might not have taken the game ball, it’s important to appreciate what was a spectacular performance from the Nuggets star.
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