Following a strong preseason in which the Denver Nuggets won three of their five games, fans were disheartened when the team dropped its season opener to the Golden State Warriors. The disappointment, however, was short-lived. One game later, the Nuggets bounced back with a statement victory against the Phoenix Suns, cruising to a 133-111 win at Ball Arena.
While the scoreboard told one story, Aaron Gordon’s jaw-dropping 360-degree alley-oop and his hilarious postgame explanation truly stole the night.
What Did Aaron Gordon Say About His 360-Degree Alley-Oop?
On Saturday night, Gordon reminded everyone why he is among the NBA’s best dunkers. Midway through the second quarter, with the Nuggets leading 65-53, Nikola Jokić threaded a perfect lob through the Suns’ defense. Gordon caught the pass mid-air, twisted his body in a full 360-degree rotation, and hammered home a windmill dunk.
As a result, Ball Arena erupted, and even Suns players couldn’t help but shake their heads in disbelief.
The annual AG Disrespects The Entire Suns Franchise Dunk. Congrats to everyone who celebrates. pic.twitter.com/AwTAkBxNJh
— Mitchell Carroll (@mitch__carroll) October 26, 2025
After the game, a reporter asked Gordon about his motivation behind the audacious dunk. His answer was pure comedy. “I was trying to get on top 10. ESPN. DaDaDa, DaDaDa,” said Gordon during the interview.
Of course, this is Aaron Gordon we are talking about. Few players in the league carry a dunking résumé like his. Fans still remember his show-stopping 2016 All-Star Dunk Contest performance, when he soared over the Orlando Magic’s mascot, palmed the ball, and shifted it under both legs before flushing it through the hoop.
The wild part is that Gordon is already on a heater to start the 2025-26 season. In the opener against Golden State, he scored 50 points and shot 10-for-11 from three-point range. According to OptaSTATS, that performance made him the first player in NBA history to tally 50 points and 10 threes while shooting at least 90% from deep.
“Ridiculous. Whatever he did this summer, it worked,” Stephen Curry said about Gordon’s performance after the season opener.
Against the Suns, he continued his excellent form, contributing 17 points and two rebounds in the victory. The Nuggets controlled most of the game from the start. They led by six points after the first quarter and stretched that lead to 17 by halftime. Though Phoenix made a brief push in the third, Denver stormed back in the fourth quarter, building its biggest lead to 25 points and sealing the win.
Now, the Nuggets focus on their next matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 27.
