DeAndre Jordan has never won an NBA title, but he has a very good shot at taking home a gold medal with Team USA in Rio. He says he’d rather have the latter.
“I think they’re above NBA rings,” Jordan told ESPN’s Marc Stein and Mark Schwartz of the notion of winning gold. “I may get in trouble for saying that, but I believe that. I feel like this is more special. You’re not just playing teams in the U.S. You’re playing teams from all over the world. And this is even more special because there’s an NBA champion crowned every year, but this is every four years.
“You’ve got to really think about that, man, because it’s extremely special.”
They’re similar comments to those made by one of Jordan’s fellow ringless U.S. teammates. Detractors will no doubt look at this as a losing mentality, and no matter what Jordan says, the fact is, he’ll be judged ultimately on his NBA success. Charles Barkley won two Olympic gold medals, but all anyone remembers is that he never won a ring.
