DeAndre Jordan Says Olympic Gold Medal Is "Above NBA Rings"

DeAndre Jordan thinks getting an Olympic gold medal is better than an NBA ring.

Not Available Lead
Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

Not Available Lead

What could be better than winning a title for an NBA player? Well, if you're DeAndre Jordan, it's a gold medal in the Olympics, and it's not even close. While speaking with ESPN's Marc Stein and Mark Schwartz, Jordan said that he believes capturing the gold in Rio would be greater than getting a ring with the Los Angeles Clippers.

PerESPN:

"I think they're above NBA rings," Jordan told ESPN of the gold medal USA Basketball is chasing here in Rio entering Wednesday night's quarterfinal game against Argentina.

Last week, Carmelo Anthony took a somewhat similar stance to Jordan, confessing to ESPN that he would still consider his career "great," even if that means getting three gold medals while failing to ever hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy. 

"Most athletes don't have an opportunity to say that they won a gold medal, better yet three gold medals," Anthony said. "I would be very happy walking away from the game knowing that I've given the game everything I have, knowing I played on a high level at every level: high school, college, won [a championship at Syracuse] in college and possibly three gold medals," Anthony said. "I can look back on it when my career is over -- if I don't have an NBA championship ring -- and say I had a great career."

Considering that the Olympics come around every four years, and only 12 players are selected to compete for a gold medal, Jordan should consider himself lucky to be part of a special group. But these are two completely different experiences. It's basically comparing apples with oranges.

Send all complaints, compliments, and tips to sportstips@complex.com.

Latest in Sports