The topic of winning an NBA championship vs. winning a gold medal has been a highly discussed subject during this year’s 2016 Rio Olympics. With Team USA on its way to another gold medal, the conversation has become which is better, a gold medal or an NBA ring. Carmelo Anthony gave his response, by saying he would be happy with retiring with 3 gold medals and no NBA championships, and received criticism for his remarks. Now, another player is speaking up, claiming that a gold medal could be more special then an NBA ring.
Clippers Center and Team USA big man, DeAndre Jordan told Marc Stein of ESPN that a gold medal holds more importance than an NBA ring. Per Stein:
“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.
“I may get in trouble for saying that, but I believe that. I feel like this is more special. You’re not just playing teams in the U.S. You’re playing teams from all over the world. And this is even more special because there’s an NBA champion crowned every year, but this is every four years.
“You’ve got to really think about that, man, because it’s extremely special.”
This does not mean that DeAndre Jordan doesn’t want to win an NBA championship. It’s quite the contrary. Although he’s never been in the Finals, he is probably more focused than ever with this Clippers team, as is Carmelo Anthony with his team in New York. Jordan and Carmelo do have a point though. With the abundance of USA players that could potentially play for Team USA, it is truly an honor and a privilege for these superstars to get selected. Although the competition isn’t anywhere near as good, being able to represent your country and win a gold medal, must be a special feeling for an athlete.
