Former Mitty star Aaron Gordon wins NBA championship with HS coach Kennedy by his side
Archbishop Mitty boys basketball coach Tim Kennedy was inside Ball Arena and got to watch as his program’s greatest player, Aaron Gordon, won his first NBA championship on Monday night.
When the final buzzer sounded on the Nuggets’ 94-89 victory, confetti rained down and the longtime San Jose coach beamed with pride while cheering and celebrating in the Denver stands.
“I’m exhausted, but seeing Aaron win it was a dream come true,” Kennedy told the Bay Area News Group on Tuesday morning. “When your players go to college, that’s special. When they get drafted, you think you’ve hit the top. But to win and be a world champion on the highest stage, it doesn’t get any better.”
Unbelievable night for Monarch legend Aaron Gordon as he helps the @nuggets win an NBA championship. Proud of everything this great competitor and teammate has accomplished. Represents himself and everything Monarch basketball stands for so well. #AlwaysAMonarch pic.twitter.com/n3sLdJvKSA
— AMHS Mens Basketball (@mittymenshoops) June 13, 2023
Gordon was twice named Cal-Hi Sports’ Mr. California in basketball, winning the award following both his junior and senior seasons and breaking section records in scoring and rebounding in the process.
Gordon helped the Monarchs capture back-to-back California Interscholastic Federation Division II state titles in 2011 and 2012, earned McDonald’s All-American honors and was named the Bay Area News Group’s player of the decade.
We spoke with Kennedy for a few minutes over the phone before he hopped on a flight back to the Bay Area. Here is what he said, with comments edited for brevity and clarity.
BANG: How nervous were you in the final minutes of the game?
Kennedy: (Laughs). Oh man, I felt like I was living and dying in every moment, you know? When they didn’t overturn that three-point foul (on Gordon), I thought it was going to be a little sketchy. They kept battling, but it was a huge sense of nervousness.
Was getting tickets to the closeout game difficult?
Kennedy: Aaron and his family got us tickets, and my wife and I were able to get on the floor for the celebration, too. Aaron’s always looking out for his family, friends and coaches too.
Aaron Gordon (50) of the Denver Nuggets is introduced before the first quarter of the NBA Finals game 1 against the Miami Heat at Ball Arena in Denver on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)Did Aaron say anything about having plans to come back to the Bay Area and speak to your Mitty team during the offseason?
Kennedy: Somebody said he’ll have a chance to be with the trophy for a certain amount of time this offseason. Hopefully we can get him out to Mitty, and have him bring it to San Jose.
Is Gordon someone who you’re going to use as an example to your young players as someone who embodies what you want to see from a Mitty basketball player?
Kennedy: I sure am, because winning is all he cares about and he’s been like that since high school. He had to do more for us and score, but it came down to doing the little things … When you listen to his comments from this year, it was all about the team. It’s all about ‘Hey, we have one goal, and that’s to win an NBA championship, and it doesn’t matter who gets the glory.’