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The Dallas Mavericks got their long-desired big man DeAndre Jordan three years after the free-agent fiasco held him in Los Angeles for longer than they wanted. Yet the return the Mavs have gotten from Jordan this far into the young season was everything they hoped they would get upon signing him to a one-year deal.
Jordan, a notorious liability at the free-throw line, had only shot over 50 percent from the stripe twice in his 10 seasons with the Clippers. He came off a career-best season last year, knocking down 58 percent of his 312 foul shots, but he has gotten off to a brilliant start in Dallas, going 9-of-10 through the team's first three games. So what has changed?
“Just reps,” said Jordan when pressed for an answer, according to Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News. “I'm just trying to stay with it.”
After an 18-point, 16-rebound performance on Monday against the Chicago Bulls, his average raised to 17.0 points and 12.7 rebounds along with 2.3 blocks per game — numbers the Mavs will be plenty happy with if he can keep those up throughout the season.
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“He didn't come here to lose games,” said head coach Rick Carlisle. “It's a big move for him to come here after being some place for a decade. He's doing a lot of things from a leadership standpoint. It's pretty clear when you watch him that he's into it.”
The improvement at the foul line has been no accident, but rather the result of hard work and being in a place of comfort, now playing in his home state of Texas and able to put in the work.
“He's worked extremely hard,” said Carlisle. “And he's bought into everything that we've talked to him about. But he's put the work in. And he believes in the process. And I love the way he's shooting it.”
DeAndre Jordan hopes to continue this production, especially at the free-throw line so he's not a liability late in games.
