Ben Gordon: “In Detroit, I’ll Be Able to Do More Than Just Score.”
Detroit is hurting.
With the automobile industry virtually collapsing, the Motor City has seen its unemployment rate fluctuate close to 20% in any given month. Thousands of homes and businesses are left abandoned, and there is little light at the end of the tunnel for many families.
To make matters worse Detroit’s sports franchises, which have always been a source of hope and enthusiasm for the city, have struggled mightily. The Lions failed to win a single game in 2008, the Red Wings heartbreakingly lost in the Stanley Cup Finals in 2009, and the Tigers have consistently disappointed. Needless to say, a once glorious city is in the midst of destruction and despair.
Newly signed Pistons free agent guard, Ben Gordon, wants to help change that sentiment and give the city something to rally around once more.
When you picture the Detroit Pistons, there is an unmistakable image of blue collar, gritty basketball that is a direct personification of the city. However, times are changing, and Detroit is certainly not immune in that regard. The NBA is perhaps the most dynamic and ever-changing professional sports league in the world and the trend today is a more free-flowing game dominated by wings, instead of the “bigs” of years past. Pistons GM Joe Dumars recognized the prior Pistons team led by Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, and Rasheed Wallace had its chance, wasn’t moving forward, and needed a shake-up.
Enter Ben Gordon.
Few players can put up points faster than he. When he’s dialed in, there is almost no spot on the court where he doesn’t feel confident enough to hoist up a shot (and he usually sinks them). Fortunately for the Pistons, Gordon has proven to be a consistent contributor in each of his 5 years in the league; he’s never shot less than 40% from the field or beyond the arc in spite of frequently different instructions and expectations from coaches.
“Everyone’s excited,” Gordon said about the new look Pistons. “There’s a new staff, new coach, and new players. After last season everyone was disappointed with the way things turned out. This year, everyone is excited for the new opportunity and a fresh start. I’m just going to go out there every night and do what it takes to win; that’s really everybody’s role. The way Joe has built the team it’s everyone who will share a piece of the team’s success, helping each other do what it takes to win.”
However, Dumars’ acquisition of Gordon was much more about Ben the complete player rather than Ben the scorer.
Truth be told, Gordon didn’t have much of an opportunity to showcase those abilities in Chicago. In his tenure with the Bulls, Ben went through three different coaches, countless style and philosophy changes, and was often lost in the shuffle when doing so. In spite of those challenges, Gordon remained the Bulls most reliable and deadly threat on the offensive end. This role suited Gordon well but with other players who were looked at to create for teammates, Ben had been delegated solely as a scorer.
With Gordon now at the helm, Detroit’s roster and personnel look vastly different than the traditional defensive-oriented Pistons teams of years past. Gordon rounds out an extremely athletic roster of players that include veterans Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Rodney Stuckey, and Charlie Villanueva. In addition, the players Detroit drafted in 2009 signify and represent a change in style as well with forwards Austin Daye and DaJuan Summers.
“We’ll have a lot of firepower,” Gordon said. “If you look at the way the game is being played now, Joe has tried to change our team to be successful. The game is a lot more up-tempo now and defending teams is different because it’s just not as physical as the game once was. It’s really not a grind-it-out style of ball anymore. Though we’ll have a lot of offensive guys, defense will still be our staple.”
Making a 5-year commitment to Detroit this off-season to the tune of $55 million, Gordon doesn’t just realize that he’ll be looked to do more than put points on the board – he welcomes it. With a more flexible system the Pistons will run on the offensive end, Gordon once again will have the freedom not only to score, but also to be creative with the ball similar to his days at Connecticut. Utilizing his all-around game was one of the deciding factors that drove Ben to sign the lucrative deal.
“That was one of the main reasons,” Gordon said. “In Chicago, scoring was what I was asked to do. But I can do a lot more – I can make treys, I can pass, I can create. There’s a lot to my game that people haven’t seen, or seen enough of. I think in Detroit I’ll be able to do more than just score.”
Off the court, Gordon is just as excited about having a unique opportunity to truly make a difference in the city. His non-profit organization, the Ben Gordon New Life Foundation, focuses on improving the lives of children and youth with the goal of becoming well-rounded, contributing members to society.
“My foundation is something my mom helped me start,” Ben said. “The main goal of the foundation is to reach back to the community & develop the youth. My mom has so many great ideas. We really want to develop the youth so they have great values and morals as adults.”
Detroit, perhaps more so than ever, could use some of the hope that Gordon and his foundation provide.
“Every year our mission takes a different approach,” Gordon said. “It’s really based on what the community needs. Detroit has definitely struggled as a city so I’m looking forward to helping wherever I can. It’s going to take a lot but I want to go in and do my part to make a difference in that community.”
Ultimately, we’ll have to wait to see how the Pistons season unfolds to truly measure Gordon’s impact on and off the floor. But for now, Ben Gordon has given Detroit a reason to hope; and that’s something that will be invaluable for the city in the coming months.
Follow Dime on Twitter @DimeMag.
Follow Ben York on Twitter @bjyork.
August 17th, 2009 at 10:51 am
Q. says:
nice piece.. great work, Ben! look forward to seeing more from you w/ Dime..
August 17th, 2009 at 10:52 am
Kobeef says:
REPORT
Knicks in talks to acquire Rubio from Wolves.
“The Knicks have closed off negotiations with all free agent point guards until next week. (They are) making a push for Rubio and if that fails, then they’ll reopen talks with their other options,” says the source.
“Kahn and [Knicks' President] Donnie Walsh are close and New York is looking for a cheap point guard who could help attract free agents next summer.
August 17th, 2009 at 10:53 am
Metropolitan's Finest says:
@ Ben York…
Man kinda laying the recession and no hopes kinda thick in the first paragraph
Do you personally think he can help the city and there’s any hope for Detroit (Sports & Economic)?
August 17th, 2009 at 11:04 am
jzsmoove says:
Ben Gordon is identified as a one-dimensional player rightnow. Hopefully the Detroit basketball personality takes over him instead of the other way around. Detroit is a proud city so make them proud BG. I am rooting more for BG just so that he can help the Pistons get back on its feet.
August 17th, 2009 at 11:09 am
dmitry of jersey says:
“In Chicago, scoring was what I was asked to do. But I can do a lot more – I can make treys, I can pass, I can create.
kinda funny that the first thing Ben Gordon mentions when talking about all the things he can do other than score is …. make treys. Ooook buddy.
August 17th, 2009 at 11:16 am
ToAn says:
@dmitry of jersey…yeah i was thinking the same. really funny. “i can also create some shots for me, as well as shoot free throws. so it’s not just scoring that i can provide”
August 17th, 2009 at 11:38 am
Arrogant says:
I dont think the bull would have minded him passing on a lot of those shots.. theres a difference between ball hog/gunner and scorer.
i dont know, i guess we will see.
August 17th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Brown says:
Isn’t he still a 6th man?
August 17th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
srb says:
That team is going to be really tough to keep up with. Lot of really active players.
August 17th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
weezy f says:
yea because the bulls held a gun to his head and said if you get 10 assists or 10 rebounds well blow your brains out
August 17th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
sh!tfaced says:
yeah right. who you kiddin, gordon? everyone knows all you really do is put the ball in the basket.
August 17th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Jules says:
cmon ben…stop lyin. everyone knows you cant dribble or pass well at all.
August 17th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Jules says:
bah, kinda repeated sh!tface, but you get the point haha
August 17th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
POPPI GEE says:
So all different stats should go up aside from scoring then. Just hope he comes with it. Every man got a plan till he get hit – Tyson.
August 17th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
NTstateOFmind says:
hey Ben, dont forget you also bring your defensive limitations to the D as well
August 17th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Oscarisalakerfan says:
He still can’t defend.
August 17th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
BigggMaccc says:
Theres nothing wrong with detroit sports, the red wings almost won back to back championships, tigers are first in their division, pistons have been good for the last 6 or 7 years its okay to have a bad season, stafford will do more for detroit than gordon will
August 17th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Vohaul says:
I watched every bulls game last year. Black hole. More often than not i was cursing his terrible shot selection. Everyone seems to only remember the few game savers he made. He screwed up more situations than he saved. I loved BG, but pretending he’s anything but a forced shot maker is rediculous. Perfect 6th man though if he’d accept that role. Come in when needed and torch people, his ball handing skills and D though, are terrible.
August 17th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
dial up says:
gotta love bulls fans who know nothin about their team. BG was the bull’s superstar. Might not have got them too many games that year tho, but his shot selection is nothin compared to the other bull, ty thomas. Salmons “d” is just as bad, tho he may be a little taller. Salmons is a downgrade you’ll see.
August 17th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Griff says:
LOL, angry Bulls fans make me laugh… Now you know how it feels, except when Ben Wallace left he got worse. BG is gonna light you guys up next year and he will be playing some PG too this year so he will have to step it up on his playmaking skills. Which in turn could make him “that” much more dangerous. He had to be a playmaker in college, why couldn’t he do it here?
August 17th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
DuckIII IS GAY says:
He’s better than cancer Kirk and no talent Deng.
August 17th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
NTstateOFmind says:
id rather have 4 solid quarters from salmons than the every-now-and-then explosive 4th quarter that gordon provides
August 17th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
JOB33 says:
Stuckey= Veteran?
August 17th, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Seven Duece says:
this team is set to implode. an their best overall player (Tayshaun Prince) is quiet. the defacto leader (Hamilton) is grumpy. the front court is inept. their best offensive player(Ben Gordon) can only create for himself. their coach is unproven. this will be a fun season to watch if you hate the Pistons.
August 17th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
David Junker says:
You wrote: A once glorious city is in the midst of destruction and despair. Then, Enter Ben Gordon. Poor Ben, Charlie or any person. Ben is great. But he’s just a man. Obama’s just a man. You are expecting from them only what God can do. Detroit needs to look to the true Saviour Jesus our Lord and then act- show His mercy.
David
from Japan
August 18th, 2009 at 4:09 am
Jubilee says:
obama is NOT just a man! take it back!!
August 18th, 2009 at 4:51 am
RICK773 says:
dial up…BG ain’t a superstar and if you consider him to be then Rose has gotta be one too. And most Bulls fans know BG shot you out of as many games as he shot you back in. This is not to bash BG because he’ll always be one of my favorite Bulls but lets call him what he is a scorer.
August 18th, 2009 at 8:44 am
Pistonguy says:
BG is not here to be the savior of the pistons.just another player to add to the success of the team. The pistons will still have to be dealt with this coming season, still playoff bound. This is still the east!
August 18th, 2009 at 10:19 am
ScoGo says:
I’ve watched every game that Ben has played in as a professional. Great guy. Great scorer. Chicago will miss him. But more than a scorer, um, okay. I guess if you need someone to turn the ball over, Ben can do it from anywhere on the floor in 3 dribbles or less.