Houston native and former Texas A&M player DeAndre Jordan is respected as a dunker, rebounder and rim protector over his 17-season NBA career spanning seven teams, including the Clippers, Knicks, Nets, Lakers and Nuggets.
In 2023, Jordan won his first ring as a Denver Nuggets NBA championship roster member.
With Nuggets MVP Nikola Jokic out against the Rockets in a Western Conference showdown between the Rockets and Nuggets earlier this month, many believed the at the time scorching nine-game win streak Rockets were in for a layup win.
But that was not the case.
Despite playing limited minutes this season, Jordan stepped in as a starter and was all over the place in the Nuggets’ 116-111 victory that snapped their four-game losing streak. Whether Jordan was dunking over Rockets All-Star Alperen Segun, doing a behind the back ally-oop highlight dunk or setting screens for point guard Jamal Murray–who finished the game with 39 points–Jordan had fans on the edge of their seats saying he’s still got it.
Jordan finished that night at the Toyota Center with a double-double, scoring 11 points and 15 rebounds, to go along with four assists and one steal.
In the locker room, Nuggets players kidded around with the veteran post-game about Jordan’s body aches, which he would experience the next day. His teammates joked about putting him in the starting lineup every five games like major league baseball teams commonly do with pitchers. You could see the comradery amongst the Nuggets players celebrating their veteran leader’s impact.
When Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone was asked what he has seen DeAndre add to this roster behind the scenes as a veteran leader over the past three seasons, he responded, “DJ’s a guy that’s been a lead for 17 years, he was there for our championship run, and was invaluable. So, you know, in the locker room, in the huddles, he’s a really big part of our culture. The leadership that he brings is a calming influence. And when he’s called upon to go out there and play, he’s always ready. This is what you want from a guy like DJ, who’s been a big part of what we’ve been trying to do here for the last two or three years. So very thankful that he’s a Denver Nugget, and all he brings to the table every day.”
The Nuggets three-time MVP and seven-time All-Star center Jokic said, “DJ is a very big factor. When we won a championship (two years ago), he was a big factor and someone who could calm us down to lift us up or to say something important. He’s always there. He’s stays ready to play more minutes. This season he is a true professional.”
Murray added, “I just think he’s always talking, super vocal, encouraging, always keeping guys in good spirits. I think he does a great job just staying involved, you know. I think as a player you wanna impact the team in that way. But he does such a good job at just adapting to his role in the team and being a team guy and like I said, encouraging guys and talking to guys when they need it. And then he always stays ready. It’s one thing to just be coaching the guys up on the sidelines sometimes, but to stay ready, coming into the game and then just having played three, four weeks (during the season). I think it goes to his professionalism. Something that, you know, he’s been doing for a while.”
Jordan was asked about his experience starting a winning game in his hometown, his leadership with the Denver Nuggets, his stay-ready mentality and more.
Playing in front of your hometown crowd
“My family, my friends, my hometown. It’s amazing playing against a great team like the Rockets, it’s always fun. And, (me and) my high school friends talk a lot, so it, it was fun to be able to come out here and have a good game and us get a win from that.”
Describe your leadership on this team
“It’s nothing that I planned on doing. It just kind of happened and the guys are very receptive to it. Uh, Aaron Gordon is (butthole), but other than that, everybody listens pretty much. I think it’s a collective effort. I try not to do it all the time, but if I see something, then the guys will respond.”
Approach as one of the elite Top 40 rebounders of all-time in the NBA
“Yeah, I mean from a young age, I took a little pride in ownership in that. So I have had guys like, you know, Marcus Camby, who was a great rebounder, Zach Randolph, guys like that. Then we played against other teams throughout my career, and I just kind of learned and studied different guys. Dennis Rodman was, was awesome. So being able to see those guys and kind of take up different things, Tyson Chandler, different things from all those guys and kind of steal a little bit and making my own, it’s been beneficial to me.”
Stay ready mentality
“…that’s just the job of being a professional man. This league, you know, you never know when your number’s gonna be called, but it’s our job and we hold ourselves accountable to be ready. We got the best player in the world who’s out. So, it’s a, you know, committee kind of deal with Zeke, Dario, Blanco, PY, AG and myself. So, it’s gonna be a different person’s night every night. And tonight, I got the call to start. We ended up winning the game, so it was good.”
