Nuggets Star Gordon Cheers for Serbia, Jokic After Team USA Snub

Denver Nuggets star Aaron Gordon might bleed red, white, and blue, but that didn’t stop him from rooting for Serbia – and his MVP teammate Nikola Jokic – in the 2024 Olympics after feeling snubbed by Team USA.

The high-flying forward, instrumental in the Nuggets’ success, recently shared his thoughts on his Olympic allegiance and how Jokic’s near victory over Team USA felt a little personal.

Speaking during the Denver Nuggets’ media day, Gordon revealed that while he was initially asked if he wanted to play for Team USA, the call to officially join the squad never came. “I was asked about playing for Team USA, and then the call never came around,” Gordon said.

“So there was a little bit of salt there in the first place, you know? And then just to see Jokic take them to the wire like that. It’s like, ‘This is dope!’ This dude on my team is gonna just wash these cats.” Gordon’s playful jab got the whole room laughing, though he was quick to add, “But all that being said, ‘Merica!”

The Nuggets forward, who found his groove as a key playmaker in Denver’s system, wasn’t just cheering for his Serbian teammate out of camaraderie – he also took some motivation from the missed opportunity to represent his country.

After all, it wasn’t just a vague hope. Gordon shared that Golden State Warriors head coach and Team USA leader Steve Kerr floated the idea of him joining the roster after a win against the Warriors during the 2023-24 NBA season.

“After we beat the Warriors in the Bay, Steve Kerr asked if I wanted to play for Team USA,” Gordon said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He dropped 30 points in that game, but despite the conversation, the official invite never materialized.

The 29-year-old admits that breaking into Team USA’s star-studded Olympic lineup would have been a challenge but has used the experience as fuel for his competitive fire.

Gordon made it clear that he’s already setting his sights on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. “If you think I’m not working every damn day to play in 2028 and represent…I got goals! Don’t care if you wanna see me fail,” Gordon declared with determination.

While Team USA secured gold, Gordon’s enthusiasm for Serbia’s underdog battle – and his bond with Jokic – turned out to be one of the most talked-about moments in the Nuggets’ locker room.