Just five days after signing a guaranteed minimum-salary deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, veteran center DeAndre Jordan found himself back in familiar territory, facing his former team, the Denver Nuggets, on Wednesday.
As reported by Bennett Durando of The Denver Post, the game carried special meaning for the 37-year-old, who spent the past three seasons in Denver and was part of the team’s 2023 championship run.
“Definitely some emotions for sure,” Jordan said before tip-off. “Spent three years here. It was great. My teammates, coaches, everything. The fans were amazing. So it’s definitely some (emotions) running through (me) right now, coming here and seeing the locker room and the banner again. … I owe a lot to Denver.”
Jordan’s time with the Nuggets may have been limited in minutes, but his influence within the team’s culture was deeply felt. Head coach David Adelman reflected on Jordan’s impact, calling him a vital presence behind the scenes.
“Such a big part of what we were in that locker room, his personality, not just for the players but for the staff,” Adelman said, joking that Jordan’s three years in Denver “felt like 30.”
He added, “All-time vet. … I’m glad he’s back in the league.”
Jordan has played 18 seasons for 8 teams, including the Clippers and Nuggets. He has averaged 9.7 rebounds and 8.5 points in 1,113 regular-season games.
He was selected to play in 1 All-Star game, and has won 1 NBA championship.
Nuggets Notes: Valanciunas, Jordan, Jokic, Murray https://t.co/XpcxwrBEdr pic.twitter.com/TQCMRNGyEV
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) October 31, 2025
