Alumni Profile: Ben Gordon

Looking Back:  Ben Gordon never settled into his role in Detroit like he had in Chicago where he averaged 20 points a game.  His numbers dipped drastically to just 13 a game. The talent on those two different teams had something to do with it, but Gordon’s tenure in Detroit was anything but successful. He did have his bright spots where he showed the ability to put up starter like numbers like his 45 points against Denver, but there were also those nights where he struggled mightily to get consistency out of his jumper.   With his heavy contract and his up and down play, Detroit shipped him to the Bobcats.

The Good: Gordon has one of the sweetest strokes in the game and when he is on, he is as good as it gets.  He has great ball handling skills, can take his defender off the dribble, and has a knack of getting open through screens.  He has become one of the NBA’s best three point shooters, ranking 8th. He also plays the break well and has deceptively good athleticism and can play above the rim.

The Bad: Consistency has plagued Gordon throughout his career and has kept him out of starting lineup for much of his career.  He also isn’t known for his defense, though he has shown the ability to turn it up a notch in the playoffs, which is more disconcerting because it shows apathy.  Another issue that Gordon has is his turnovers where he is averaging 2 a game in his 26 minutes a game.  He has all the tools and has yet to put it all together to become the star that most UConn fans thought he would be.

Looking Ahead:  With Ben Gordon now in Charlotte, he will have the opportunity to get more minutes, but his playoff hopes are assuredly done.  He’ll have to be more of a mentor for Kemba Walker and the young Bobcats that need some leadership in the worst way.   He’ll put up better numbers in Charlotte, but it’s a far cry from his time in Chicago.