When DeAndre Jordan got drafted back in 2008, a lot of people did not think he'd even make the L.A. Clippers‘ final roster. He wasn't a highly-touted prospect, being selected with the 35th pick in the second round due to his raw talent but also a thin frame that did not appeal to many teams at the time.
However, he proved his doubters wrong as he increased his points and rebounds average in each of his first seven seasons. One of them is NBA legend and Indiana Pacers‘ president Larry Bird who went as far was as saying he thought Jordan did not have any basketball skills.
“Yeah, Jordan, DeAndre. When he came in here to work out the first time, I couldn’t believe the kid was even thinking about coming out. He was tall, he could run and he could jump. But basketball (skills)? Had none. And I am amazed, I am truly amazed how this young man has developed his game from where he was to the point he’s at today. I’ve never seen that before. I’ve seen guys get a lot better, but when he came in there that day, we had Roy Hibbert, we had some other big guys in here. I really felt sorry for the kid. I thought there’s no way in hell this kid will ever make it in this league. And I don’t know who got with him, or what he did, but to watch him play and perform on a nightly basis the way he does is just breathtaking to me.”
The Boston Celtics‘ great also said how proud he is of the 6-foot-11 center's continuous improvement and how far he's gone in the NBA.
“After everything I’ve seen, I always go back to that. It’s pretty amazing. And this wasn’t this year; this happened five years ago. And just watching him, he was in here the other night and I thought, boy, I’m so proud of that kid. It’s amazing. I’ve never really met him other than that day he was in here. But just watching kids like that come in, and here I’m thinking they have no chance, there’s no way in hell they’ll play in this league, and to accomplish some of the things he’s done, to me, that’s worth it all. And I had nothing to do with it. I had absolutely nothing to do with it. But that’s the kick I get out of it. I mean, there’s been others, but he sticks out in my mind. I never thought he had a chance in hell, you know?”
Jordan proved he was definitely one of the biggest steals in draft history as he turned out to be an elite center in the league today. With his stellar play especially on the defensive end, he is making the Clippers a serious championship contender and one of the favorites to challenge the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs in the tough Western Conference.
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