Gordon hopes to build on lessons learned at Virginia Tech

The 2007 NBA Draft was over in a matter of hours. Sixty total picks, 0 Hokies taken. Many experts for ESPN and Sports Illustrated projected as many as two Hokies to be selected, and it was fairly certain that either Zabian Dowdell or Coleman Collins would have a shot at being picked after strong showings in the NBA’s pre-draft camp.

After such a strong season and helping lead the Hokies to their first NCAA Tournament berth in 11 years and advancing to the second round, failing to be drafted was a little more than a disappointment for Jamon Gordon. A more apt description would be a feeling of disrespect.  

“It felt like a slap in the face. I was at home watching the draft with my mom and some friends, and after none of us got taken [Dowdell or Collins], I was mad. I felt we had all done a lot in our careers, especially this past season,” Gordon said.

But don’t think that getting passed up was the end of the road for Gordon. After working out for several teams, Gordon signed with the Dallas Mavericks’ summer league team, where his consistently scrappy defending and his excellent game management skills have helped him compete for a roster spot.

When asked about the entire free agent process, Gordon confessed, “Man, it was kind of scary at the beginning, because you don’t know what to expect. After the first workout it gets easier; you just got to be ready to work out. You get off the plane and you’re ready to play and make an impression. “

Gordon has done well for the Mavericks and has taken on mentors and friends on the team, some of which are NBA starters. He is currently playing in Las Vegas, Nev., at the NBA Developmental League Tournament, where the Dallas Mavericks are undefeated. He says he has bonded with the Mavericks’ first pick Nick Fazekas and has a friendship with Brandon Bass, with whom he shared a summer basketball camp. But it’s who the Mavericks traded for with their last pick that he has a particularly good time with – UNC’s Reyshawn Terry, and he doesn’t let him forget about the sweep.

“Me and Terry are real tight, both being from the ACC, and I’m always messing with him because how we beat them twice this year. I always make sure to give him a hard time,” Gordon said.

Most importantly, Gordon knows that there is no guarantee to make it in this league, and the only thing he can do is work hard, day in and day out. When asked what his role with the Mavericks was after the summer, he noted that it wasn’t really in his control and that he had to keep “trying to play hard, try to get invited to the training camp. The main focus is to work hard. I don’t know, it’s not my call, but I have to play as hard as I can and try to do what I need to do to provide for my family.”

It is this sort of hard work ethic that made Gordon so successful with Coach Seth Greenberg’s squad and that will hopefully carry him to an NBA team in the future. In the meantime, though, Gordon can’t help missing Blacksburg. “I just miss the people around campus, the friendly atmosphere, the games, and especially my teammates, being around them.”