Birthday boy Jordan: Being with Clippers best decision for me
DeAndre Jordan said that staying with one team for his entire NBA career was "important" to him.
On the afternoon of his 27th birthday, Jordan -- along with the Clippers' other free-agent acquisitions -- met with the media for the first time since re-signing with Los Angeles, the only franchise Jordan's known during his NBA career.
"The sky's the limit for our team," Jordan said Tuesday. "I know the city, I know the fans. ... I love it here (Los Angeles). Being with the Clippers was the best decision for me. We're going in the right direction, (and) we're close to getting over the hump."
"The only thing Doc (Rivers) promised me was an extra $8 million."
Jordan's highly publicized change of mind -- from his original verbal commitment to the Mavericks to the Clippers' last-minute onslaught to keep their 6-foot-11 center -- took over the national headlines and filled them up with emojis.
"(It was) a long process, I'm happy we're all here today," Jordan said. "It wasn't a hostage situation (at his Houston home)."
"He never left ... he talked about it ... but he came back," added Doc Rivers, the Clippers' coach and president of basketball operations. "He should be celebrated for making the right decision."
Jordan briefly talked about his alleged beef with point guard Chris Paul, which Jordan said was overblown in the media.
"Chris changed the culture of this team (when he joined in 2011)," Jordan said. "When it comes down to it ... we want what's best for the team."
And while things have been smoothed over between Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and Mavs owner Mark Cuban, Jordan said the only thing for him to do was "man up and apologize ... and that's what I did."
Re-signed guard Austin Rivers, veterans Paul Pierce and Josh Smith, center Cole Aldrich, forward Wesley Johnson and rookie Branden Dawson took part in Tuesday's media session, where Doc Rivers also said, with 13 guys now under contract, "I wouldn't say we're done (with signings), we're just going to wait. We have enough right now, but if we can improve the team, we'll do that."
Rivers, like all of Clipper Nation, is eager to see how the new pieces mesh with All-Stars CP3 and Blake Griffin and sharpshooters Jamal Crawford and JJ Redick.
"I love what we've assembled; (now we have to) turn all this talent on paper into a team," Rivers said. "On paper, I like us against anyone. I can't wait to get into the gym and see how we will use them all."
