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By Matt Audilet
Contributing Sports Writer
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DeAndre Jordan, a 37-year-old center, is in the twilight of his NBA career. However, it appears the one-time All-Star is returning for at least one more year in New Orleans.
On Tuesday, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported that Jordan has agreed to a one-year deal with the Pelicans for his 19th professional season.
No contract details were revealed in Charania's report, but Jordan likely agreed to the same veteran minimum contract he signed before the 2025-26 season. The long-time NBA big man served as a veteran leader of New Orleans last season, averaging just 4.4 points and 6.3 rebounds through 16.6 minutes per game off the bench.
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Jordan entered the league as a second-round draft pick for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2008. He spent the first decade of his NBA career in Los Angeles, leading the league in rebounding in back-to-back seasons and notching his lone All-Star selection in 2016-17.
Jordan then notched stints with the Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers and Denver Nuggets before finding his current home in New Orleans. He's a one-time NBA champion, helping the Nuggets to a title as a backup center behind Nikola Jokic in 2023.
Former Pelicans interim head coach James Borrego recognized the impact Jordan had as a veteran leader last season.
“He’s a psychologist, he’s a mentor, he’s a friend, he’s a cheerleader, he’s a coach and he’s wearing five to six different hats every night,” Borrego said back in April. “The beauty in DeAndre is, whatever is required in the moment, he’s willing to step and give.
“And sometimes that’s an X or O or it’s just love. And that’s not easy to do. That’s what makes him so special.”
The Pelicans are under new leadership heading into the 2026-27 season after hiring former Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley.
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