Gordon started on the varsity basketball team at Archbishop Mitty for all four years of high school, and he led his team to two Division II state basketball championships in his sophomore and junior seasons. By his senior year, Gordon was considered one of the top high school basketball players in the country. He averaged 21.6 points, 15.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game in his senior year, and he led Mitty to its third straight state title game. Despite the loss in the inaugural Open Division final, Gordon was named the California Mr. Basketball for his outstanding performance throughout the season.

After graduating from high school, Gordon attended the University of Arizona, where he played for the Wildcats men's basketball team. During his freshman year, Gordon helped lead the team to the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament. He was named to the All-Pac-12 first team and earned Pac-12 Freshman Player of the Year and Pac-12 All-Freshman team honors.

In 2014, Gordon declared for the NBA draft, forgoing his final three years of college eligibility. He was selected by the Orlando Magic with the fourth overall pick in the draft, and he spent the first six and a half years of his career with the team before being traded to the Denver Nuggets in 2021.

Despite his success in the NBA, Aaron Gordon has never forgotten his roots. He remains proud of his hometown of San Jose and is actively involved in the community. Gordon has even started a foundation, the Aaron Gordon Foundation, which aims to provide opportunities for young people in San Jose and beyond.

In conclusion, Aaron Gordon's journey to becoming an NBA star began in San Jose, California, where he honed his skills as a basketball player at Archbishop Mitty High School. He continued to develop his game at the University of Arizona before being drafted by the Orlando Magic in 2014. Today, he is a key player for the Denver Nuggets and a beloved figure in the San Jose community.