DeAndre Jordan getting no love in All-Star voting despite breakout season
PLAYA VISTA, Calif. -- Unless a million votes with his name on them suddenly fall from the sky, Clippers center DeAndre Jordan isn't likely to be playing in next month's NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans.
Not that he's not deserving. Jordan is having a breakout season, the kind coach Doc Rivers openly talked about when he was named Clippers coach last summer.
But in the latest tabulations released by the league, Jordan doesn't rank in the top 15 among Western Conference frontcourt players. The current leaders are Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City), Dwight Howard (Houston) and Clippers forward Blake Griffin.
"It's fine," Jordan said Tuesday of the snub from fans, who can vote on social media as well as online. "I know who our superstars on this team are. As long as I get the respect from the coaches and my peers around the league and we're winning, that's the only thing that matters."
Jordan, who is in his sixth season, will undoubtedly get some consideration when reserve players are selected prior to the Feb. 16 game. Balloting ends Jan. 20.
He leads the league in rebound average (13.4) and field goal percentage (64.6) and is third in blocked shots (2.49 per game). He already has a career-high 17 double-doubles in points and rebounding.
Jordan is not indifferent to playing in the game. It's something he wants and clearly believes he has earned this season.
"It's definitely something I want to play in," he said. "It's always been a dream. I don't want to make it one time; I want to make it multiple times. Whenever my year is, then that'll be my year."
This might be his time. Asked if he believes he's having an All-Star worthy season, he said, "Hell, yeah I do."
Rivers gave his strongest indication so far that he's interested in signing 6-foot-10 forward Hedo Turkoglu, who was waived by the Orlando Magic on Jan. 2.
"We could, yeah," Rivers said. "We're looking at him strong. I can say that much."
The Clippers worked out Turkoglu, a career 11.9-point scorer, last week at their training facility, and Rivers expressed an interest in him at that time. But they're currently at the 15-player limit, so someone would have to be waived.
Win an exclusive experience on 1/29 when the #Clippers play the #Wizards courtesy of @CarMax. » http://t.co/I2BrrOv0PN | Carmax, START HERE!
— Los Angeles Clippers (@LAClippers) January 14, 2014
Guards Darius Morris and Maalik Wayns are signed to 10-day contracts, and it's possible the team could make room when one of those deals expires.
