The Dallas Mavericks signed center DeAndre Jordan to a one-year, $22.9 million deal in July, and Mavs legend Dirk Nowitzki is excited to have the high-flyer on board.
Jordan spent the first 10 years of his NBA career with the Los Angeles Clippers, but he declined his player option with the team for the 2018-19 season and joined Dallas. Jordan, of course, agreed to sign with the Mavericks in 2015 before having a change of heart and going back to the Clippers.
The Mavericks have clearly forgiven Jordan and are ready for him to lead the team on the defensive end, while also being a force in the paint on offense. Nowitzki believes Jordan will be a great fit for coach Rick Carlisle's offense.
Here's what Dirk told me about DeAndre Jordan joining the @dallasmavs : "I think he’s going to be great, I think he’s going to fit in great with coach’s system. The (center) is always running and rolling and protecting the rim, so we’re looking forward to him really fitting in."
— Dwain Price (@DwainPrice) September 18, 2018
Jordan averaged 12.0 points and 15.2 rebounds per game in 77 regular-season contests last year with the Clippers while shooting 64.5 percent from the field. The 30-year-old doesn't possess polished post-up moves, but is a lethal rim-roller coming off the pick-and-roll and figures to get easy baskets all season playing alongside Dennis Smith Jr., Harrison Barnes, Luka Dončić and Nowitzki.
In July, Carlisle said he expects Jordan to be great for the Mavericks.
“I was with him yesterday in LA,” Carlisle said at the Team USA minicamp in Las Vegas. “I spent a couple of hours with him and had a real constructive visit with him. We worked on a few things. I’m just so excited that he’s on board with us. He’s going to be great.”
In 750 career games, Jordan has averaged 9.4 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. He's only a career 44.6 percent shooter from the free-throw line, an aspect of his game he needs to improve on. Jordan did shoot a career-high 58.0 percent from the charity stripe in 2017-18.
This year will be Nowitzki’s 21st season with the Mavericks, setting an NBA record for the years a player has been with a single team. The future Hall of Famer signed a one-year, $5 million deal in July.
In 77 games last season, Nowitzki averaged 12.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists, shooting 45.6 percent from the field and 40.9 percent from 3-point range. He underwent ankle surgery in April but is expected to be ready for training camp.
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