Former NBA player Ben Gordon is reportedly suiting up for the Great Britain national team during the squad's Eurobasket 2017 qualifying campaign next month and he hopes to make it a spring board on an NBA return next season.
ESPN reported that "the 11-year NBA veteran hopes to help the British qualify for Europe's biggest tournament while showing talent evaluators that he can still play at an elite level".
The 33-year-old London, England native missed the entire 2015-2016 season despite attending the Golden State Warriors' training camp last summer. The veteran shooting guard last played for the Orlando Magic in 2014-2015 and had averaged 6.2 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in only 14.1 minutes of playing time per night, the lowest of his career including his rookie year.
His last productive season was back in 2012-2013 when the former NBA Sixth Man of the Year awardee played 75 games off the bench for the then Charlotte Bobcats. Gordon averaged 11.2 points, 1.7 boards, and 1.9 dimes that season playing 20.8 minutes a game.
"I would definitely love to get back in the league after being out for a year," said Gordon, as reported by RealGM. "Just watching the way the game is being played, up and down. Obviously, the 3-point shot is always a big deal but it seems like just now, more than ever, that shot is being used more and more."
"So I feel like I can still play at a high level and shoot that 3-ball and add that kind of depth to a team that may be looking to fulfill that need. So yeah, I definitely have hopes of making a return with an NBA team or just playing period, wherever that may be," he said.
Gordon then disclosed that he was struggling last season while he was waiting for an opportunity to be signed by an NBA squad once again.
"It was tough man, I was training. But it was the first time where I was training but it wasn't for a team. I was training to stay in shape and waiting for a call from your agent to see what happens. It was very different," Gordon admitted.
"I did get a chance to spend more time with my family, so that was very rewarding. But I look forward to getting back on the court this year, hopefully it's with an NBA team," he added.