If you were watching basketball on Christmas Day in 2022, you saw something that shouldn't have been physically possible. Most people remember the Denver Nuggets beating the Phoenix Suns in a wild overtime thriller, but the thing that actually broke the internet—and still generates millions of views today—was the Aaron Gordon game winning dunk.
Technically, it wasn't the final buzzer-beater, but it was the dagger. It was the moment the energy in Ball Arena shifted from "tense" to "completely unhinged." To understand why this specific play is treated like a religious relic in Denver sports history, you have to look past the box score.
What Really Happened With the Aaron Gordon Game Winning Dunk?
It was late in overtime. The Nuggets were up by one. Landry Shamet, who was having the game of his life for the Suns, missed a shot that would have put Phoenix ahead. Aaron Gordon grabbed the rebound and just... took off.
Honestly, he looked like he was shot out of a cannon. Most players in that situation would have slowed down, protected the ball, and waited for a foul. Not Gordon. He saw a lane, he saw Shamet standing there, and he decided to end the game right then and there.
The Physics of the Poster
Gordon launched himself from what felt like the free-throw line. Landry Shamet tried to draw a charge—a brave, if ill-advised, decision. Gordon didn't just dunk over him; he seemingly levitated through him. The contact happened in mid-air, but Gordon’s momentum was so violent that he just kept rising.
✨ Don't miss: Lo que nadie te cuenta sobre los próximos partidos de selección de fútbol de jamaica
The referees initially called it an offensive foul. The arena went silent for a second, then erupted in boos. But after a review, the call was overturned. It was a block. The basket counted. The "and-one" was just a formality. That dunk essentially iced the game, and the Nuggets walked away with a 128-125 victory.
Why This Play Defined Gordon's Denver Era
Before he got to Denver, Aaron Gordon was "the dunk contest guy." You know, the one who should have won in 2016 against Zach LaVine. People thought he was just an athlete. But that Christmas Day performance—where he finished with 28 points and 13 rebounds—proved he was the perfect "glue guy" for a championship team.
- Trust from Jokic: Nikola Jokic has often said that if he sees Gordon anywhere near the rim, he’s throwing the ball.
- Physicality: Gordon changed the Nuggets' identity from a "soft" finesse team to one that could punch you in the mouth.
- The Jewelry: Believe it or not, Gordon actually had that dunk memorialized. He got an iced-out pendant made of the exact moment he was in the air over Shamet. If that isn't the ultimate flex, I don't know what is.
The 2025 Playoff "Finale Oop"
While the Shamet dunk is the most famous, we have to talk about what happened recently in the 2025 playoffs. History sort of repeated itself, but with even higher stakes. In Game 4 against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Intuit Dome, the Nuggets were facing a 2-2 series tie if they lost.
With the clock winding down, Jokic threw up what looked like a desperate airball. It was ugly. But Gordon, who has a sixth sense for where the ball is going to land, swarmed the glass and slammed it home just as the buzzer sounded.
🔗 Read more: Listen to Dodger Game: How to Catch Every Pitch Without a Cable Bill
This Aaron Gordon game winning dunk was different. It wasn't a transition poster; it was a pure hustle play that saved Denver's season. The NBA later confirmed it was the first game-winning, buzzer-beating dunk in the playoffs since the play-by-play era began in the late 90s.
What Most People Get Wrong About These Plays
A lot of casual fans think Gordon just gets lucky or relies on his height. He's $2.03$ meters tall (about 6'8"), but plenty of guys that size can't do what he does. It's about his timing.
- He knows exactly when the defender's feet are planted.
- He uses a "pro hop" to generate maximum verticality in tight spaces.
- He has the body control to absorb a hit and still finish with his right hand.
Basically, he's a world-class acrobat who happens to play power forward. When you watch the replays of the 2022 Christmas dunk, look at the faces of the Suns bench. They aren't even mad; they're just confused. They're looking at him like he just cheated at gravity.
The Actionable Side of the Hype
If you're a basketball fan or a player looking to understand why Gordon is so effective, there are actual lessons here. It’s not just about jumping high. It’s about "rim pressure." By being a constant threat to dunk, Gordon forces defenders to stay glued to him, which opens up the floor for shooters like Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr.
💡 You might also like: LeBron James and Kobe Bryant: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
How to watch for Gordon's impact:
- Watch how he "seals" his man in the paint before a shot even goes up.
- Notice his positioning on the "dunker spot" (the baseline area near the rim).
- Look at his transition sprints; he often beats everyone down the court just by outworking them.
The Aaron Gordon game winning dunk isn't just a highlight; it’s a blueprint for how a high-level role player becomes a star in their own right. Whether it's a Christmas Day poster or a playoff buzzer-beater, Gordon has mastered the art of being in the right place at the absolute loudest time.
If you want to see these plays in person, the best thing to do is catch a Nuggets home game at Ball Arena. The energy every time he gets a head of steam in transition is unlike anything else in the league. You can also follow the NBA’s official "Tissot Buzzer Beater" archives to see how his 2025 playoff dunk ranks against the all-time greats.
Key Takeaways for Fans
- Study the Footwork: Gordon's dunks start with his feet, not his hands.
- Value the "Dunker Spot": It's the most underrated position in modern basketball.
- Expect the Unexpected: With Gordon and Jokic on the floor, an airball is often just a disguised pass.
The legacy of the Aaron Gordon game winning dunk continues to grow. It’s the kind of play that young kids try to recreate on their Nerf hoops at home, and the kind of play that keeps defensive coordinators awake at night. Honestly, we're just lucky to be watching him in his prime.