Sixth Sense Fulfillment:
Finishing last season with 11.2 points per game, the Bobcats gained something very valuable in acquiring Ben Gordon last season. Gordon can very well make the case of being this years sixth man of the year. He could provide instant-offense off the bench, becoming a primary option when the Bobcats need a big score. This is definitely a natural position that Gordon will be familiar with and could easily adapt to. After being selected by the Bulls with the third overall pick in the 2004 draft, Gordon became the first rookie in league history to win sixth man of the year honors--averaging 15.1 ppg. Last season Gordon posted five games of 25 Points or more as a reserve, which is tied for third most in the NBA by a player coming off the bench. Also scoring a season-high 34 points on Nov. 9 at New Orleans, setting a Bobcats franchise record for points in a game by a reserve.
Finishing last season with 11.2 points per game, the Bobcats gained something very valuable in acquiring Ben Gordon last season. Gordon can very well make the case of being this years sixth man of the year. He could provide instant-offense off the bench, becoming a primary option when the Bobcats need a big score. This is definitely a natural position that Gordon will be familiar with and could easily adapt to. After being selected by the Bulls with the third overall pick in the 2004 draft, Gordon became the first rookie in league history to win sixth man of the year honors--averaging 15.1 ppg. Last season Gordon posted five games of 25 Points or more as a reserve, which is tied for third most in the NBA by a player coming off the bench. Also scoring a season-high 34 points on Nov. 9 at New Orleans, setting a Bobcats franchise record for points in a game by a reserve.
Breaking 10,000:
Despite a over time loss to the Portland Trailblazers, December 3rd would be a memorable night for Gordon. Scoring a game-high 29 points that night would put Gordon over the 10,000 point mark of his career. He scored 27 of his 29 points in the second half and over time, also setting a franchise record for 3-pointers in the second half (7). That would make Gordon the sixth University of Connecticut player to reach the 10,000-point mark in the NBA. Will Kemba Walker be the seventh?
No place like home:
On the court, most fans would see 200 pounds of prestigious talent, but Ben Gordon is simply much more than that. During every off-season, Gordon spends a lot of his spare time back in his hometown in Mount Vernon, New York giving back to his community. Gordon, along with Mayor Ernest Davis and the City of Mount Vernon, developed a program where the people of the community could enjoy a week of sports enrichment and community engagement. For the past 8 years, Ben Gordon has hosted his annual Ben Gordon Day as a way to give back to his community and neighbors. This event included live music, vending opportunities and basketball clinics. Approximately 60 of the top high school players in the tri-state area were invited to his alma mater, where he could teach the younger kids in the area.
Despite a over time loss to the Portland Trailblazers, December 3rd would be a memorable night for Gordon. Scoring a game-high 29 points that night would put Gordon over the 10,000 point mark of his career. He scored 27 of his 29 points in the second half and over time, also setting a franchise record for 3-pointers in the second half (7). That would make Gordon the sixth University of Connecticut player to reach the 10,000-point mark in the NBA. Will Kemba Walker be the seventh?
No place like home:
On the court, most fans would see 200 pounds of prestigious talent, but Ben Gordon is simply much more than that. During every off-season, Gordon spends a lot of his spare time back in his hometown in Mount Vernon, New York giving back to his community. Gordon, along with Mayor Ernest Davis and the City of Mount Vernon, developed a program where the people of the community could enjoy a week of sports enrichment and community engagement. For the past 8 years, Ben Gordon has hosted his annual Ben Gordon Day as a way to give back to his community and neighbors. This event included live music, vending opportunities and basketball clinics. Approximately 60 of the top high school players in the tri-state area were invited to his alma mater, where he could teach the younger kids in the area.
Let it fly! :
During a six game stretch last year from Nov. 24-Dec. 5, Gordon went on to set franchise records for three-point filed goals in a game, half and quarter. He posted records of eight three-point field goals in a game and seven three-point field goals in a half on Dec. 3 against the Portland Trailblazers. Also he set the franchise record for three-point field goals in a quarter while tying the franchise record with seven three-point field goals in the game.
With a new and improved look for the Bobcats, there should be no surprise that Gordon will have significant numbers this season, especially from the the three-point range. Even nights when his shot may not fall, Gordon could still space the floor to hit high percentage shots because of the dribble-penetration abilities that guards Ramon Sessions and Kemba Walker possesses. He is amongst one of the best consistent shooters in the NBA, averaging a shooting percentage of 43 percent and 40 percent from the three-point range. You want to open up the middle for Al Jefferson, right? This would be a perfect vindication for that scenario.
Leadership factor:
Some intangibles like leadership, chemistry and motivation are often underestimated for a teams recipe to success. The Bobcats are a young team in the rebuilding process and have attained potential future stars in key spots, but the pivotal factor is leadership. Along with Al Jefferson and Kemba Walker, Gordon could surely add to the leadership and teachings to this years team behind nine years of experiences in the league of his own.
This is not the first time Gordon has been apart of a rebuilding project, as he was apart of young teams like the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons. Going back in his younger days with the Connecticut Huskies and Chicago Bulls, Gordon is a born leader. In Gordon's final year in college leading his team in scoring (20.5), he led the Huskies to the NCAA Championship. Following being drafted, he also assisted the Bulls to the playoffs in his rookie season after a six year skirmish. Great basketball skills are good for winning teams, however great leadership is how you win championships and Gordon will provide that for the Bobcats.
During a six game stretch last year from Nov. 24-Dec. 5, Gordon went on to set franchise records for three-point filed goals in a game, half and quarter. He posted records of eight three-point field goals in a game and seven three-point field goals in a half on Dec. 3 against the Portland Trailblazers. Also he set the franchise record for three-point field goals in a quarter while tying the franchise record with seven three-point field goals in the game.
With a new and improved look for the Bobcats, there should be no surprise that Gordon will have significant numbers this season, especially from the the three-point range. Even nights when his shot may not fall, Gordon could still space the floor to hit high percentage shots because of the dribble-penetration abilities that guards Ramon Sessions and Kemba Walker possesses. He is amongst one of the best consistent shooters in the NBA, averaging a shooting percentage of 43 percent and 40 percent from the three-point range. You want to open up the middle for Al Jefferson, right? This would be a perfect vindication for that scenario.
Leadership factor:
Some intangibles like leadership, chemistry and motivation are often underestimated for a teams recipe to success. The Bobcats are a young team in the rebuilding process and have attained potential future stars in key spots, but the pivotal factor is leadership. Along with Al Jefferson and Kemba Walker, Gordon could surely add to the leadership and teachings to this years team behind nine years of experiences in the league of his own.
This is not the first time Gordon has been apart of a rebuilding project, as he was apart of young teams like the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons. Going back in his younger days with the Connecticut Huskies and Chicago Bulls, Gordon is a born leader. In Gordon's final year in college leading his team in scoring (20.5), he led the Huskies to the NCAA Championship. Following being drafted, he also assisted the Bulls to the playoffs in his rookie season after a six year skirmish. Great basketball skills are good for winning teams, however great leadership is how you win championships and Gordon will provide that for the Bobcats.
