Ben Gordon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Ben Gordon

Gordon in 2013
Shooting guard
Personal information
Born	(1983-04-04) April 4, 1983 (age 42) London, England
Nationality	British / American
High school	Mount Vernon (Mount Vernon, New York)
Listed height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight	200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
College	UConn (2001–2004)
NBA Draft	2004 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3rd overall
Selected by the Chicago Bulls
Pro career	2004–2017
Career history
2004–2009	Chicago Bulls
2009–2012	Detroit Pistons
2012–2014	Charlotte Bobcats
2014–2015	Orlando Magic
2017	Texas Legends
Career highlights and awards
NBA Sixth Man of the Year (2005) NBA All-Rookie First Team (2005) NCAA champion (2004) First-team All-Big East (2004) Second-team All-Big East (2003) Big East tournament MVP (2004)
Career statistics
Points	11,084 (14.9 ppg)
Rebounds	1,851 (2.5 rpg)
Assists	1,868 (2.5 apg)

Benjamin Ashenafi Gordon (born April 4, 1983) is a British-American former professional basketball player. He played for 11 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Ben Gordon also played college basketball for the University of Connecticut. There, he helped his team win a national championship in 2004.

He is the only player in NBA history to win the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award as a rookie. This award goes to the best player who usually comes off the bench. Gordon is also known for his amazing three-point shots. He is fourth in career three-pointers for the Chicago Bulls. He shares an NBA record for making 9 three-point shots in a game without missing any.

Early Life and High School Basketball

Ben Gordon was born in London, England. His father is Jamaican, and his mother is African-American. When he was a baby, his family moved to the United States. He grew up in Mount Vernon, New York.

Gordon played high school basketball for the Mount Vernon Knights. He helped his team win the 2000 New York State Championships. He was a top player in his state and one of the best young players in the country. Many colleges wanted him to play for them. He chose to go to the UConn.

College Basketball Career at UConn

As a freshman at UConn, Ben Gordon was the second-highest scorer on his team. He often came off the bench, but he still averaged 12.6 points per game. He made a game-winning three-point shot against Villanova in the Big East tournament.

In his second year, Gordon led the Huskies in scoring with 19.5 points per game. He also led the team in assists. For his great play, he was named to the Second Team All-Big East.

In his junior and final year at UConn, Gordon again led his team in scoring. He averaged 20.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. He made 104 three-pointers, which was the second-highest in UConn's history for a single season. Gordon set a Big East Tournament record with 81 total points. He was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

He also won the Most Outstanding Player award for the Phoenix Regional in the NCAA tournament. Gordon led all players in the tournament with 127 total points. He helped the Huskies win the NCAA Championship. After his junior year, Gordon decided to enter the 2004 NBA draft. The Chicago Bulls picked him third overall. His UConn teammate, Emeka Okafor, was drafted right before him.

Professional Basketball Career

Chicago Bulls (2004–2009)

Rookie Season: NBA Sixth Man of the Year

Ben Gordon signing autographs before a Chicago Bulls game

Before the 2004 NBA draft, Ben Gordon thought he would be picked later. But he had a feeling the Bulls might pick him third. This was the same spot where Michael Jordan was drafted 20 years earlier. Gordon wore number 4 in high school and college. However, he had to wear number 7 with the Bulls because number 4 was retired. He chose 7 by combining his draft pick (3) and his old number (4). The Bulls also drafted Luol Deng in the same year.

Before Gordon joined in 2004, the Bulls had not won many games. In his rookie year, Gordon helped turn the team around. They started 3–14 but finished 47–35. This earned them a spot in the playoffs. Gordon averaged 15.1 points per game. He scored 10 or more points in the fourth quarter 21 times, second only to LeBron James. The Bulls lost in the playoffs, but Gordon made history. He became the first rookie ever to win the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award. He was also named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month three times.

Gordon worked on improving his game. He wanted to be in better shape for the next season. He even started designing an energy drink called BG7. The drink was made with white tea, which is full of healthy things called antioxidants.

Second Season and Three-Point Record

In his second year, Gordon played both as a starter and off the bench. His playing time, scoring, and assist numbers all increased. He was chosen to play in the Rookie Challenge during the NBA All-Star Weekend. He scored 17 points in that game.

On April 14, 2006, Gordon tied an NBA record. He made 9 three-pointers in a game without missing any. The Bulls made the playoffs again but lost in the first round. They were defeated by the Miami Heat, who went on to win the NBA Championship.

Third Season and Playoff Success

Gordon's third season was a big step forward for him and the Bulls. He became the team's starting shooting guard. He averaged 21.4 points per game. The Bulls improved their record to 49–33. On March 4, 2007, Gordon scored a career-high 48 points. He led a huge comeback win against the Milwaukee Bucks.

In the first round of the playoffs, the Bulls played the Heat again. This time, Chicago won the series in four games. They became the first team to sweep the defending champions in the first round. They later lost to the Detroit Pistons in the second round.

Later Years with the Bulls

The Bulls had high hopes for the 2007–08 season. However, they started poorly and did not recover. In the 2008 NBA draft, the Bulls picked Derrick Rose. This made some people wonder how Gordon and Rose would play together. Both were great at scoring.

On October 1, 2008, Gordon signed a one-year contract with the Bulls. On December 27, 2008, he passed Scottie Pippen to become the Bulls' all-time leader in three-pointers made. Gordon and Rose learned to play well together. They helped the Bulls finish the season strong and make the playoffs.

In the playoffs, the Bulls faced the defending champion Boston Celtics. Many thought the Bulls would lose easily. But in an exciting series with lots of scoring and overtime, the Bulls pushed it to seven games. Gordon scored 42 points in one game. The Bulls eventually lost, but Gordon led the team in scoring for the season and playoffs.

Detroit Pistons (2009–2012)

Ben Gordon spent three seasons in Detroit, between 2009 and 2012

In July 2009, Ben Gordon signed a five-year contract with the Detroit Pistons. With the Pistons, he continued to be a key player coming off the bench. On January 9, 2010, Gordon scored the 10 millionth point in NBA history. After that season, he had surgery on his left ankle.

On March 22, 2012, Gordon again tied the NBA record for most three-point shots made without a miss, with 9. He scored 45 points in that game. He helped Detroit come back from a big deficit, but they still lost.

Charlotte Bobcats (2012–2014)

On June 26, 2012, Gordon was traded to the Charlotte Bobcats. On November 28, 2012, Gordon scored 20 points in the fourth quarter of a game. This was the most points scored in one quarter by any player in Bobcats history. He finished that game with 26 points. On March 2, 2014, the Bobcats released him from the team.

Orlando Magic (2014–2015)

On July 11, 2014, Gordon signed a two-year contract with the Orlando Magic. He played one season with them. On June 29, 2015, the Magic released him.

Golden State Warriors (2015)

On September 28, 2015, Gordon signed with the Golden State Warriors. However, he was released on October 14, 2015, after playing in two preseason games.

Texas Legends (2017)

On January 24, 2017, Ben Gordon joined the Texas Legends. This team is part of the NBA Development League, which is now called the G League.

Playing for His Country

On April 1, 2008, Ben Gordon was chosen for the shortlist of players for the Great Britain national basketball team. He could play for Great Britain because he was born there and has dual citizenship. In 2010, he said he hoped to play for Great Britain in the 2012 Olympics. However, he could not join the team at that time.

On July 22, 2016, Gordon was again selected for Great Britain's team. He played in the EuroBasket 2017 qualifiers. During these games, he averaged 9.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game.

Before playing for Great Britain, Gordon represented the United States national team. He played for them at the 2003 Pan American Games.

NBA Career Statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

See also

• List of National Basketball Association career 3-point field goal percentage leaders
• List of European basketball players in the United States