DALLAS – One of the Dallas Mavericks player expected to benefit handsomely from the offseason acquisition of DeAndre Jordan is center Dwight Powell.
Jordan is arguably the best center in the NBA and is a very polished rebounder and defender. He also is arguably the best dunker off the lob pass in the entire NBA.
In the meantime, Powell knows he can learn from Jordan’s overall knowledge of the game when he goes against him every day in practice.
“It’s a good challenge for me to be able to go against a guy like that possession after possession (in practice), because obviously in games you’re going all-out every possession regardless,” Powell said following the third day of training camp Monday at the Lympo practice facilities. “So in practice with a guy that’s always going hard — especially on the rebounding on the glass — it’s easier to fine-tune physical techniques, whereas you can’t really practice those one-on-ohs.
“So hitting guys and bumping guys the right way and getting low into bigger guy’s legs, and the timing of your jumps on rebounds, like spotting the ball early without finding contact, without fouling. . .And offensively, going against a guy who is very good at those technical aspects at the physical side of rebounding, I think over the course of the next few weeks and throughout practice in the season I’m going to be able to learn a lot from him.”
Jordan led the NBA in rebounding in back-to-back seasons in 2014 and ’15, made the NBA all-defensive first team in ’15 and ’16, and was selected to the Western Conference All-Star team in 2017. He also has averaged a double-double in each of the past five seasons.
The Mavs signed Jordan to a one-year free agent contract on July 6, and he has immediately shown Powell and others that he’s here to help this team get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
“He’s a team-first kind of guy, he has a winner’s mentality and I think he’s proved that already in these first few days of practice,” Powell said. “But he’s obviously proved that over the course of the last few weeks just interacting and talking about the season, talking about his ideas and plans for when we’re on the floor, he’s definitely a positive influence on and off the court for us.”
As for himself, Powell, who averaged career highs of 8.5 points and 5.6 rebounds last year, spent the offseason working on various aspects of his game.
“I spent a lot of time getting ready and getting prepared,” Powell said. “I really worked on everything.
“Everything, from top to bottom on the court and off the court as far as conditioning and strength and flexibility. I spent a lot of time on my shot and I really worked on all facets of the game.”
In addition to Jordan, Powell also expects to benefit even more from veteran Dirk Nowitzki, who, like Powell will be coming off the bench this season. Powell pointed out the advantages that personally come his way because of Nowitzki’s ability to stretch the floor with his deft outside shooting touch.
“He makes my job a lot easier,” Powell said. “In a lot of situations we’re really playing four-on-four.
“Guys don’t want to give up those threes to him – and any shot, really – because he’s automatic. Guys kind of hug him, especially on the weak side, so that opens up opportunities to roll (to the basket).”
Meanwhile, Powell and his teammates couldn’t wait to welcome Jordan to his new team after he reneged on a verbal commitment to sign with the Mavs during free agency in the summer of 2015.
“I don’t really come into a new relationship with too many judgments or pre-conceived notions about a guy,” Powell said. “You’ve got to let him show up and show us who they are.
“But he’s a great guy. I’m glad he’s on our side.”
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