Aaron Gordon has spent much of his NBA career entertaining basketball fans with spectacular dunks and explosive athleticism. But on Saturday night, the Denver Nuggets forward surprised an entire arena without even touching a basketball.
Ahead of Denver’s regular-season matchup against the Indiana Pacers in Mexico City, Gordon grabbed a microphone and addressed the crowd in Spanish, producing one of the most memorable moments of the NBA’s latest international showcase.
Standing at center court inside Arena CDMX, the 31-year-old thanked the Mexican fans for their support and expressed his excitement about playing in their country.
With an enormous smile, Gordon concluded his remarks with an enthusiastic declaration:
“¡Vamos Nuggets! ¡Viva México!”
Aaron Gordon and Jarace Walker BOTH address the crowd in Spanish 👏
The NBA Mexico City Game 2026 is LIVE on NBA TV! https://t.co/w4wcBzwg7d
— NBA (@NBA) November 7, 2026
The crowd responded with applause, clearly appreciating the effort to communicate in their native language.
Gordon wasn’t the only player embracing the occasion. Indiana forward Jarace Walker also delivered a message in Spanish, receiving an enthusiastic reaction from his teammates after completing his remarks.
Saturday marked the NBA’s 35th game in Mexico since 1992, with the matchup taking place during the country’s Día de Muertos celebrations.
The Nuggets gave their enthusiastic supporters plenty more to celebrate once the game began. Nikola Jokić recorded 19 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists as Denver defeated Indiana 114-102. The Nuggets established a commanding 27-point advantage before surviving a second-half comeback attempt from the Pacers. Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 23 points, while Cameron Johnson contributed 18 for Denver.
Yet despite the presence of Jokić and the excitement surrounding the international matchup, Gordon’s pregame appearance provided a highlight of its own.
