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Drew Gordon, a former New Mexico men’s basketball standout and two-time All-Mountain West selection, died in a car accident on Thursday, May 30, in Oregon. He was 33 years old.
Gordon transferred from UCLA and shone for the Lobos during the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons. As a senior, he led the Mountain West in rebounding with 11.1 per game and averaged 13.7 points, driving the Lobos to a Mountain West Championship and the NCAA Tournament’s second round. He remains the last Lobo to average a double-double for a season.
Over his two-year career at UNM, Gordon averaged 10.8 rebounds per game, placing him fourth in school history. His 32 career double-doubles rank sixth in the program’s records.
After college, Gordon enjoyed an 11-year professional career, including stints in the NBA and overseas. He played nine games for the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2014-15 season, becoming the 15th Lobo to reach the NBA. Gordon also earned an LNB All-Star selection while playing in France for Champagne Châlons-Reims.
A San Jose native, Gordon was a top 50 high school recruit from Archbishop Mitty before committing to UCLA. He played 40 games for the Bruins over two seasons.
Gordon is survived by his wife, Angela, and three children. His younger brother, Aaron, plays for the Denver Nuggets.