December 23, 2024

Does DeAndre Jordan have a ring? Nuggets center hoping to win first NBA championship with Denver

DeAndre Jordan #DeAndreJordan

© Provided by NBA Canada Powered by the Sporting News

DeAndre Jordan has worn plenty of jerseys during his lengthy NBA career. The Nuggets backup is something of a basketball wanderer, taking his talent from coast-to-coast over the course of a successful 15-year tenure in the league.

That’s not too shabby for a former second-round pick.

Perhaps surprisingly to some, Jordan has put together quite the laundry list of accomplishments since joining the professional ranks. Not only did the Texas A&M alum establish himself as a quality starter during his pinnacle, but he ranked as one of the league’s most dynamic big men. He was thrice recognized as a member of All-NBA teams and twice made the league’s All-Defensive team.

For all his on-court success — Jordan has an Olympic gold medal in his closet to go along with his NBA spoils — the former Clippers standout hasn’t climbed basketball’s biggest peak. At least not yet.

MORE: Nuggets vs. Heat live score, updates, highlights from Game 5

Here’s what you need to know as Jordan looks to finally capture basketball’s greatest crown.

Does DeAndre Jordan have a ring?

DeAndre Jordan doesn’t have a championship ring. Frankly, he hadn’t gotten all that close until the 2023 NBA Finals.

Jordan reached his highest heights in L.A., teaming up with Chris Paul and Blake Griffin to form Lob City. YouTube’s favorite team racked up plenty of regular season wins throughout Jordan’s 10 years in Los Angeles. The Clips logged at least 50 wins five times during Jordan’s time with the team.

That didn’t translate to the playoffs, however. Los Angeles failed to make a conference final, let alone the NBA Finals, with Paul, Griffin and Jordan spearheading the team.

Not all postseason flameouts are created the same. Jordan and company fell just short of a conference final push in 2014-15, dropping their second-round series to the Rockets in seven games. Houston was summarily dumped out in five games by the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals.

In 2021, Jordan got even closer. As a bit-part member of the Nets, Jordan was a part of the squad that took the championship-winning Bucks seven games in the Eastern Conference semifinals. If only Kevin Durant’s foot was a little smaller. Maybe then Jordan would have some ice on his ring finger.

MORE: How Nuggets title could give owner Stan Kroenke a championship empire

Nevertheless, 2023 represents the furthest Jordan has ever advanced in the playoffs. His contributions to the Nuggets have been limited, but a potential championship ring would sparkle all the same.

DeAndre Jordan teams

Jordan has embraced his persona as basketball’s version of a circumnavigator, manning the post in both the Eastern and Western Conference. To date, the 34-year-old has played for seven different teams: the Clippers, Mavericks, Knicks, Nets, Lakers, 76ers and Nuggets.

Jordan was quite stationary through his opening 10 years, donning Los Angeles’ white-and-red.

Then came the carnage: an emoji-filled game of cat-and-mouse saw him ink a mammoth deal with Dallas. Soon, his productivity dropped off. And for the better part of the past few seasons, Jordan has played sparingly for the Nets, Lakers, 76ers and Nuggets.

MORE: Who is Larry O’Brien? How NBA Finals trophy got its name

DeAndre Jordan contract, career earnings

Per Spotrac, Jordan is on a one-year, $2,905,851 deal with Denver. It’s a far cry from the millions he pocketed as a rim protector with the Clips and Mavs. But it’s still a decent chunk of change, especially for a player who rarely features nowadays.

Jordan’s career purse reads far prettier than his current deal. Over the course of his 15 years in the pros, Jordan has racked up $171,090,136.

No matter what he does from this point going forward, it’s clear Jordan’s an AMEX all-star.

Leave a Reply