'There was a little bit of salt' for Aaron Gordon after not receiving Olympics call

Aaron Gordon may have felt he had done enough to warrant consideration for Team USA's Paris Olympics roster, especially after he helped bring the Nuggets their first championship in 2023.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, the athletic forward was asked about the Serbia vs. Team USA game in Paris that pit his Nuggets teammate, Nikola Jokic, against his fellow Americans. Gordon used the opportunity to reveal he was upset at not receiving a call from USA Basketball to represent his country.

"I was really torn," Gordon said. "One, I was asked if I wanted to play for Team USA, and then the call never came around. So, there was a little bit of salt there in the first place. And then just to see [Jokic] taking them [Team USA] to the wire like that — I was like, 'this is dope.' I'm like, 'The dude on my team is just going to wash these cats.' But, all that being said, America."

Gordon received some online backlash for suggesting that he was rooting against his country in the Paris Olympics semifinal against Jokic. He would later take to X to disclose that Team USA head coach Steve Kerr offered him a spot on the national team after his Nuggets beat the Warriors last year.

Earlier, the likes of Jaylen Brown, Kyrie Irving and Donovan Mitchell also expressed disappointment about not being considered for the 12-man squad at the Paris Olympics.

Gordon and the Nuggets begin their 2024-25 campaign against the Thunder on Oct. 24. The 2023 NBA champions are trying to bounce back after a disappointing finish to their title defense last season, which was ended at the hands of the Timberwolves in the second round of the playoffs.

Despite that flameout, the Nuggets enter the season with the fifth-shortest odds to win it all.