Detroit, Here comes bull-like Ben Gordon

Ben Gordon Photo

Ben Gordon was born in London, England and grew up in Mount Vernon, New York. Gordon helped lead the team to the 2000 New York State Public and Federation Championships. While playing college basketball with Connecticut, Gordon helped lead the Huskies to the 2004 NCAA championship. Gordon was picked 3rd overall by the Chicago Bulls in the 2004 NBA Draft and in the 2007–08 season led the team in points scored per game.

The BG7 energy drink has been developed by the US HipHop collaboration, H3Enterprises, in association with Ben Gordon. BG7, released in the US, is the first energy drink to be named after
and promoted by an NBA star. Gordon has come to a verbal agreement to sign a five-year deal for $55 million with the Detroit Pistons starting with the 2009-2010 season. Free agents cannot officially sign
with new teams until July 8.

Ricky O'Donnell writing in his blog at the Sun Times, said that the Chicago Bulls are losing one of their
best players to their biggest rival in the prime of his career for zero compensation.

"The contract he [Ben Gordon] took from Detroit is pretty similar to the one he rejected two years ago from the Bulls. Now he's 26, back then he was 24. Had he taken the Bulls' first offer way back when, he'd still be young enough to cash in on another phat contract. By the time his deal with the Pistons expires, he'll be 31 and out of his prime. Also, Gordon is leaving Chicago (which is a great city) for Detroit (which is a miserable city)."

Gordon was reported by USA Today to have said, "I'm happy about the situation I'm going to, I think Joe
Dumars is really focused on winning, and his priority is winning a championship so that's definitely my main goal as a pro player. So I'm happy about that." Refering to Chicago, Gordon was reported to have
said, "I mean they didn't pursue me at all. They didn't even make an offer so it was pretty much a one-man race."

At ESPN Chicago, Jon Greenberg describes Ben Gordon as aggressive and determined, but cool under pressure. As a player, he creates his own opportunity to score.

"Even if you're a fan of defense and are opposed to a guard who pounds the ball into submission before occasionally dribbling off his foot, there are no players on the Bulls, and few in the NBA, who have his ability to make jump shots with the game on the line.

If you took Gordon's "clutch scoring" numbers over 48 minutes, almost all coming on jumpers and free throws, he would have averaged 36.3 points per game, not bad for a 6-2 guard. Some guys pile up points early and are invisible down the stretch. Gordon came alive when it mattered most, implacable mien included."

Detroit, Here comes bull-like Ben Gordon