Aaron Gordon has the pettiest reason for wearing No. 50 with the Nuggets

Aaron Gordon is looking for a fresh start with his new team, the Denver Nuggets, but the reason he’ll be wearing No. 50 is super petty.

The news that Aaron Gordon had formally requested a trade away from the Orlando Magic caught a few NBA fans off-guard last month. The news wasn’t, however, too surprising given the Magic’s struggles over the past several years. In his almost seven seasons with the Magic, Gordon averaged 13 points and six rebounds but never sniffed the playoffs.

Now, he’s looking for a fresh start.

Gordon’s season (and career probably) received a major upgrade after he was traded to the contending Denver Nuggets ahead of the NBA trade deadline last week. He decided that a new jersey number was fitting for his threads.

Aaron Gordon to wear No. 50 with the Denver Nuggets

Players switching numbers when they switch teams isn’t really a strange thing. For example, Lou Williams will wear No. 6 in honor of his son Syx when he suits up for the Atlanta Hawks in the coming days.

Gordon, on the other hand, had a much pettier reason for switching from double zero to 50 with his new team:

Yep, good old-fashioned animosity from Gordon with this one.

Rookie Markus Howard already wears No. 00 for the Nuggets, but Gordon obviously jumped at the opportunity to switch.

NBA fans remember the classic Slam Dunk Contest from 2016 that featured Gordon and Chicago’s Zach LaVine going back and forth, throwing down some of the most incredible dunks ever performed. Many feel like Gordon was robbed in the event, only receiving a score of 47 for dunking over Tacko Fall.

Watch the full contest here.

Clearly still bothered by the snub, or his latest Slam Dunk Content snub, Gordon even participated in a documentary about the 2020 Slam Dunk Contest called “Mr. 50.” He also included a diss for Dwyane Wade, one of the judges who only gave him a nine out of 10 in his latest Dunk Contest, in his rap song “9 Out Of 10.”

Talk about holding a grudge.

Gordon made his debut with the Nuggets on Sunday against the Atlanta Hawks and finished with 13 points and 2 rebounds in the Denver win.