DALLAS –Dallas Mavericks center DeAndre Jordan is in his 11th season in the National Basketball Association. His previous 10 seasons were all with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Thus, when the Mavs (10-10) clash with the Clippers (15-6) on Sunday at 6 p.m. at American Airlines Center, it’ll be the first time Jordan has ever played a game against the Clippers. That in itself should be a peculiar set of circumstances for Jordan, but he doesn’t view it that way.
“It’s going to be a basketball game,” Jordan said. “I’m not too worried.”
The Clippers drafted Jordan on the second round – the 35th overall selection – of the 2008 NBA Draft after he spent one season playing for Texas A&M. With the Clippers, Jordan became such a prolific player that he was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team in 2015 and ’16, the All-NBA First Team in ’16, and he made the 2017 NBA All-Star team.
Jordan also was one of the Clippers’ cornerstones along with Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. But Paul now plays for the Houston Rockets, Griffin has landed with the Detroit Pistons, and Jordan has brought a defensive culture to the Mavs not seen since Tyson Chandler used to patrol the middle of the paint in Dallas.
“DeAndre Jordan has changed the world for us in the paint,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “Our defensive rebounding is now up at the top of the league, our points in the paint against are much lower than they’ve been in years.
“Our ranking in that category is much higher than it’s been for a long time, so he’s added a tremendous amount to this team.”
Jordan is averaging 11.3 points this season and is third in the NBA in rebounds with 13.2 per game. What’s more, with his constant switching, he has helped clean up whatever defensive mistakes are made on the perimeter when opposing players fly to the basket in search of a dunk or layup.
“He’s helped us out tremendously with his ability to rebound, control the paint, and offensively his ability to run,” forward Harrison Barnes said. “Just the things he does, the things he cleans up for us, he’s been great and it’s been great having him here.
“I think on and off the court, he’s been great in the locker room as well.”
Little things like picking up guard J. J. Barea and carrying him to the bench area following a timeout last Saturday after Barea converted a crucial 3-pointer in the 113-104 win over the Boston Celtics is what separates Jordan and has made him a hit with his teammates. The 6-11, 265-pound is very loquacious, even to the point of when he’s lining up to shoot free throws, he’s already asking his teammates who are they guarding once they get back up the court.
“I just keep uplifting guys,” Jordan said. “Our second unit has been amazing for us, and Luka (Doncic) and Dennis (Smith), those guys have been able to play-make and push the ball up the floor, and our defense has been, I feel like, pretty good.
“We’ve all been connected and having each other’s back out there, so we just got to continue to do that no matter who we’re playing.”
Jordan gave a verbal commitment to join the Mavs when he became a free agent in the summer of 2015, but changed his mind and re-signed with the Clippers. So when he became a free agent again this past summer, the Mavs leapt at the opportunity to finally get him under lock and key.
“It’s big, and it’s something we haven’t had in a long time,” Carlisle said of the acquisition of Jordan. “Not since Tyson was here in his heyday. He’s been a major factor and a major presence for us really at both ends in the paint.
“Defensively, with rebounding and rim protection, and offensively with his free throw shooting. He’s drawn a lot of fouls, his rim-running and shape ups in the lane are big problems for teams. We just got to keep riding him.”
The Clippers certainly rode Jordan. Before the two parted ways, Jordan played 750 games for the Clippers and averaged 9.4 points and 10.7 rebounds while shooting a phenomenal 67.3 percent from the field.
Also, Jordan averaged a double-double in each of the past five seasons while becoming one of the premier centers in the entire NBA. But now he’s 20 games into a new season with a new organization, and he’s loving every minute of it.
“It’s basketball at the end of the day,” Jordan said. “It’s definitely a challenge, because it’s a new city, a new organization, a new coach, new teammates, but I feel like I can adapt very well to different situations.
“I’ve had different coaches, I’ve had a lot of teammates, I’ve had some great teams, I’ve had some not so great teams. It’s been an adjustment, but my teammates have made it great for me.”
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