It is not all sunshine and rainbows for the Denver Nuggets after losing their opening game of the 2025-2026 season on the road against the Golden State Warriors, but there are still some huge positives, such as Aaron Gordon’s legendary performance. Despite choking away a 14-point lead, Gordon had one of the best opening game performances in NBA history with his 50-point game:
Aaron Gordon just had the most efficient 50-point game in NBA history. pic.twitter.com/x2J11C6Z3Y
— Real Sports (@realapp) October 24, 2025
Not only did AG become just the 6th player in NBA history to score 50+ points in a season opener, but he also had the most efficient 50+ point game ever. His 81% FG shooting against Golden State was wildly impressive. His true shooting percentage however, was even better.
In large part due to him shooting 10/11 from beyond the arc in the game, Gordon had a true shooting percentage of 105.8%, which is out of this world! This true shooting surpassed the previous most efficient 50+ point game in NBA history (Kyrie Irving’s 101.1% true shooting in his 50-point game in 2022) by a whopping 4.7%.
AG’s 105.8% also broke fellow Nuggets player Jamal Murray’s 100.0% true shooting 50-point game from 2021, which was the previous record for Denver.
Gordon passed up a game ball for his performance due to the loss
Sadly, despite Gordon’s heroics, Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets fell to Steph Curry and Co. in overtime, ruining #32’s masterpiece. The power forward stated “I don’t want the game ball and take an L home with me. No thank you.” when explaining why he passed up on the team’s offer to award him a game ball for the performance.
What a statement from Mr. Nugget and a wonderful way to set the tone and the expectations after a tough loss. Some players would have gladly taken the ball to remember their individual accomplishment, but Gordon is far past that in his career. He cares about winning and winning only.
While it is unlikely that Gordon will be able to replicate this career-best game, it is very clear that Gordon has reached the peak of his powers with his bully-ball mentality inside the paint and recently developed a silky smooth shooting stroke from beyond the arc. This 10/11 from three-point range is surely a sign that last year’s amazing 3FG% was no fluke.
Denver now moves onto the next game as they prepare to take on the Phoenix Suns in their home opener on Saturday night. Phoenix won their home opener on Wednesday night before getting pummeled 129-102 by the Los Angeles Clippers in LA on Friday night. The Nuggets will look to kick the Suns while they are down and secure their first victory of the season.