DeAndre Jordan Thriving With Rivers

Rowan Kavner

PLAYA VISTA, Calif. – It all started before Doc Rivers ever actually coached DeAndre Jordan.

“I was in a game with Boston and DJ was the most disruptive force in that game,” Rivers recalled this preseason. “I was sitting with our trainer, and I was like, ‘This guy is the best defensive player in the league,’ and then I just didn’t see it any.”

Some coaches may have kept that last part to themselves. That’s not the way Rivers operates, though, and that’s not what happened when Rivers got to coach Jordan for the first time last season.

“I was like, ‘I saw it in this game. I know it’s there. Why can’t it be there every night?’ For me, it may have been something mental,” Rivers said. “But it was done as an honest, ‘You should be this,’ not, ‘You could be this.’ I didn’t question it.”

It was commendably candid and straightforward, even if that’s not something every athlete wants to hear. But Jordan did, and the Clippers’ center knew from the start Rivers would give him the truth in a genuine way.

Jordan appreciated and responded to that from the day Rivers arrived.

“He and I had a relationship from the moment we talked on the phone and we met,” Jordan said. “Doc’s been great. He’s a huge confidence builder, and like I said, it’s genuine. The things he tells you, he’s not blowing smoke up. He really means it and really thinks he can win and knows he can win with the guys we have here.”

Before nights such as Wednesday, when Jordan pulled in 19 rebounds as part of his ninth double-double of the season, and years such as this, when Jordan’s the NBA’s leading rebounder once again, Jordan saw darker days.

Rivers said if there’s anyone among the Clippers’ big three equipped to handle failure appropriately and respond to it, it’s probably Jordan, who fell to the second round of the draft in 2008 and didn’t play immediately when he entered the league. Jordan could recall immediately the Clippers’ record his first year in the league – 19-63 – calling that 2008-09 season something he’ll never forget.

But those days, for the team and for Jordan, are a thing of the past. The overall talent is markedly better; that was a gradual process. Jordan’s emergence, however, has been much more sudden.

Most of that is a credit to Jordan. Part of that’s a result of the players around him. Another portion is the coach who trusts him with just about everything.

When Rivers arrived, he put Jordan to work immediately. Jordan answered.

The Clippers’ center played 860 more minutes last year than he had at any other point in his career. That wasn’t a result of better health. In fact, Jordan played all 82 games each of the last two seasons and is still in the midst of a consecutive games played streak that leads the league.

It was more the result of added responsibility for a player Rivers and the Clippers trusted entirely. The added minutes paid off, as Jordan led the NBA in field goal percentage (67.6) and rebounds per game (13.6) last season, accomplishing a feat only Wilt Chamberlain and Dwight Howard had previously.

He also led the NBA with 245 dunks, serving as a poster boy for the “Lob City” mantra and becoming a key cog on a Clippers team that relies on him more for aspects of the game that aren’t as tangible as points and assists.

“DJ’s selfless,” said Chris Paul. “Like I say all the time, he does all the things for us on any given night that don’t show up on the stat sheet. I think he’s the most athletic center to ever play the game. I mean, not too many (guys) that I’ve met that big at that height, so it’s a good luxury for us.”

He has a teammate calling him the most athletic big ever and a coach who said prior to the season he possesses “Bill Russell tendencies,” then describing him the night of a 16-rebound performance against the Magic this season as “Rodman-like.” He had more rebounds and blocks (three) that night than the entire Magic starting lineup combined.

Jordan finished third in the league in blocks per game last season and is third in the league in the category again early this season.

“When guys blow by us, they know that now you’ve got to see DJ when you get into the lane,” Paul said.

Griffin went into more detail about everything Jordan must do defensively: “He’s got to help us, he’s got to watch guards cut through, he’s got to be there for penetration and he’s also got to stop their best scorer. He’s got a big responsibility, but he can handle it.”

The Clippers assume Jordan will be there to scoop up every rebound, which at times can be a detriment to the Clippers’ rebounding numbers. But it’s also a pressure Jordan puts on himself.

“I mean, I’m 6-11, and I’m pretty athletic, I think,” Jordan said. “I’m not like the skinniest guy, so I feel like I should at least get 10 rebounds for our team a game. I really put a lot of pressure on myself.”

This year, Jordan’s top two in the league in field goal percentage (73.4), rebounds per game (12.6) and blocks per game (2.62). He’s the only Clippers player allowing fewer than 100 points per possession, with a defensive rating of 98, the same he had last year.

Meanwhile, Jordan’s offensive rating is the highest it’s ever been at 129. But don’t get it confused. He knows which side of the floor he earns his living.

“I mean, I’ve definitely found my thing, what I’m good at,” Jordan said. “Certain things that guys do keep them in the NBA a long time, but I’ve found what I’m good at, and I’m only going to continue to get better at that.

“As far as offense, I’m working on that. We have a lot of guys on our team who could average 25 points if they wanted to, but we have such an unselfish team that it’s not going to be like that. As far as things for me, my offense is definitely going to come around. They’re looking for me on duck-ins, on post-ups, things like that. It’s evolving more than just offensive rebounds and lobs, but those are high-percentage shots, if I may say so myself.”

Paul said it’s got to be tough for Jordan to be required to be the team’s defensive leader when there’s such a responsibility on him on the offensive end setting screens and rolling.

“They don’t have stats for screens and stuff like that,” Paul said.

Rivers has argued Jordan makes enough of an impact that he should have won the Defensive Player of the Year honor last season. Maybe it’s playing on a team with two other stars, or the fact that much of his impact isn’t as much in the points or assists departments as elsewhere.

Whatever it is, Jordan’s teammates recognize his contributions beyond just his field goal percentage and boards.

“Beyond that, you see the shots that he affects, the altered shots, the missed shots where guys are trying to throw it up over him,” Griffin said. “As far as I’m concerned, I think we know and appreciate what he does.”

Many teams will, as well, when Jordan’s contract is up at the end of the year. But that’s something Jordan at least says he’s not focused on right now.

Rivers’ positive comments about Jordan and the immense praise he piles on him could be used against Rivers in negotiations. He called Jordan the perfect guy to have on a winning basketball team, because he can win a game without scoring, doesn’t complain about the ball and just wants to block shots and grab rebounds.

“Every team would love a guy like that,” Rivers said.

But Rivers said he doesn’t regret the compliments.

As for where Jordan wants to be, he said people finally want to come to the Clippers, a far cry from when he first joined the team. Jordan’s one of the reasons that’s happening, helping turn an afterthought squad into a legitimate contender.

“I’m a Clipper, and I’ve been here for seven years. Hopefully, I’ll be here a lot more of them,” Jordan said. “This place has been great to me. I love it here.”

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