Denver Nuggets forward Vlatko Cancar (31) celebrates with teammate DeAndre Jordan (6) after Cancar scored a 3-point basket at the end of the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. The Nuggets won 98-97. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
LM Otero
New Orleans Pelicans coach Willie Green and NBA veteran center DeAndre Jordan spent two seasons as teammates with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Now the two of them will share a coach/player relationship.
The Pelicans signed Jordan to a one-year deal Friday. The deal is reportedly worth $3.6 million, according to an ESPN report.
Jordan is in his 18th NBA season. His addition helps fill a void for the Pelicans, who have three post players (Kevon Looney, Yves Missi and Karlo Matkovic) dealing with injuries.
Jordan spent the previous three seasons with the Denver Nuggets. Last season, he averaged 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 points in 12.3 minutes per game. He won an NBA championship with Denver in 2023 and made one of the All-NBA teams three straight years from 2015-17.
But he’s 37 now and has spent his more recent years being more of a leader in the locker room.
“I think we are just taking it a day at a time,” Jordan said Friday. “I know what my role has been the last couple years and it will continue to be that way. Be a great locker room presence. A locker room leader. And when my number is called, be ready to play.”
When his number is called, it’ll be by his old teammate.
Jordan had to correct himself when talking about his new coach.
“Willie ... coach Green has done an amazing job here, and I’m excited to be able to continue our relationship here," Jordan said. "With player and coach, there is definitely a hierarchy there and I respect that more than anybody.”
This is the eighth different team he’s played for since being drafted in 2008.
“Everybody runs the same stuff,” Jordan said. “It’s just different terminology. So I’m just trying to get acclimated to what they want to do here on both sides of the basketball.”
Jordan is best known for his starting role with the Clippers from 2010-18 as part of "Lob City" alongside point guard Chris Paul and power forward Blake Griffin. Jordan made the Western Conference All-Star team in 2017.
“He’s a great addition to this team,” Green said. “A veteran who has done it right throughout his career. Those guys like DeAndre really mold some of the younger players.
“He still has basketball left in him. I remember a few games last year when they didn’t have centers and he stepped in big time. Double-doubles. He takes care of himself. He brings a lot on and off the floor.”