The L.A. Clippers announced today that they have re-signed center DeAndre Jordan and signed free agent forward Wes Johnson.
Jordan, 26, averaged a career-high 11.5 points and 15.0 rebounds in 82 games (all starts) for the Clippers last season. He led the NBA in rebounds and field goal percentage (.710), his field goal percentage was the second-highest single-season mark in NBA history (W. Chamberlain, ’72-73-.727). The 6-foot-11 center recorded an NBA-best 13 games with 20+ rebounds and set a Clippers franchise record with 1,226 rebounds in a season. Jordan became the sixth player in NBA history to average 15.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in season. He was named to the All-NBA Third Team and First Team All Defense last season, the first time in his career to achieve those honors.
Jordan led the NBA in field goal percentage and rebounds per game for both the 2013-14 (67.6% FG% and 13.6 rpg) and 2014-15 (71.0% FG% and 15.0 rpg) seasons. Only Jordan, Dwight Howard and Wilt Chamberlain have finished a season atop the league in both categories.
Originally drafted with the 35th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft out of Texas A&M, Jordan has appeared in 515 career games (413 starts) for the Clippers, averaging 8.0 points and 9.0 rebounds. The Houston native has appeared in 322 straight games, the longest current streak in the NBA.
Johnson, 27, averaged 9.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 76 games (59 starts) for the Los Angeles Lakers last season. The five-year NBA veteran brings career averages of 8.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 25.7 minutes in 349 games (269 starts) with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns and Lakers.
The Corsicana, Texas native was originally drafted by the Timberwolves with the 4th pick in the first round of the 2010 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-7 Johnson played his first two years of collegiate basketball at Iowa State before transferring to Syracuse. In one season for the Orange he was named the Big East Player of the Year and a First Team All-American after averaging 16.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 35 games (all starts).