DeAndre Jordan Wins Teammate of the Year: Why the Pelicans’ Veteran is the NBA’s Ultimate Locker Room Glue

In a league dominated by scoring titles, triple-doubles, and highlight-reel dunks, the NBA quietly handed out one of its most prestigious—and often overlooked—honors Wednesday. The Teammate of the Year Award went to New Orleans Pelicans center DeAndre Jordan, edging out a pair of extremely deserving finalists: Portland Trail Blazers guard Jrue Holiday and Houston Rockets forward Jeff Green.

For the casual fan, this might seem like a minor footnote in a season dominated by MVP chatter and playoff positioning. But for anyone who has ever stepped inside an NBA locker room, this award is the highest compliment a player can receive. It isn’t about points per game or defensive ratings. It’s about character, sacrifice, and the invisible chemistry that turns a roster of talented individuals into a family.

Let’s break down why DeAndre Jordan—a 16-year veteran who has played for six different franchises—is the perfect recipient for the 2024-25 Teammate of the Year award, and what this means for a Pelicans team desperate for veteran stability.

The Evolution of DeAndre Jordan: From Lob City to Locker Room Leader

It’s easy to forget that DeAndre Jordan was once the apex predator of the NBA’s highlight reel. As the rim-running, shot-swatting anchor of the “Lob City” Clippers alongside Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, Jordan was a two-time All-NBA selection and a two-time rebounding champion. But the player who won this award in 2025 is a very different man than the one who famously broke a verbal commitment to the Dallas Mavericks in 2015.

Jordan’s journey from a defensive specialist to a beloved veteran mentor is a story of humbling growth. After leaving the Clippers, he bounced from Dallas to New York to Brooklyn to Denver, and eventually to New Orleans. In each stop, he shed the ego of a former star and embraced the role of a “player-coach” without the official title.

What makes this award particularly compelling is the narrow margin of victory. The NBA’s Teammate of the Year is voted on by the players themselves—not by media or coaches. That means DeAndre Jordan beat out Jrue Holiday, who is universally regarded as one of the kindest, most selfless players in the league, and Jeff Green, a veteran who has battled adversity and become a spiritual leader in Houston.

“It’s the biggest honor you can get from your peers,” Jordan said in a brief statement after the announcement. “I don’t score 20 points a game anymore. But I can make sure the guy next to me feels confident. That’s my job now.”

Key Factors That Sealed the Award for Jordan

Why did the players choose DeAndre Jordan over two equally respected candidates? The answer lies in the specifics of his daily impact:

• Unmatched Mentorship of Young Bigs: In New Orleans, Jordan took rookie center Yves Missi under his wing. Reports from Pelicans practices indicate Jordan spends 20-30 minutes after every session working with Missi on footwork and positioning—a task that carries zero personal benefit for a 36-year-old veteran.
• Selfless Role Acceptance: Jordan started only 12 games this season, willingly accepting a backup role behind Jonas Valančiūnas. He never complained publicly or privately about minutes, a rare trait for a former All-Star.
• Community and Travel Leadership: Teammates have noted that Jordan organizes team dinners on the road, pays for rookie suit upgrades, and is the first player to stand up during team meetings to diffuse tension. He is the emotional thermostat of the locker room.
• Sacrifice on the Court: Despite averaging just 3.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, Jordan’s screen-setting and defensive communication are elite. He routinely takes charges and gives up his body for fouls that never show up in the box score.

Expert Analysis: Why This Award Matters More Than You Think

From a pure basketball perspective, the Teammate of the Year award is often dismissed as a “nice guy” trophy. But as a sports journalist who has covered locker rooms for two decades, I can tell you this: Chemistry wins championships. The Denver Nuggets won the 2023 title largely because of a culture of selflessness that starts with Nikola Jokić and trickles down to the 15th man. The Boston Celtics’ 2024 run was fueled by a group that genuinely enjoyed playing together.

DeAndre Jordan has been a part of that kind of culture before. He won a championship with the Denver Nuggets in 2023, where he was a beloved figure in the locker room despite playing only 19 minutes total in the playoffs. That experience taught him that the “glue guy” role is more valuable than any individual statistic.

“DeAndre is the reason our bench unit doesn’t get tight,” said a Pelicans assistant coach who spoke on condition of anonymity. “When Zion [Williamson] is frustrated, DeAndre is the one who sits next to him on the bench and talks him down. When Brandon [Ingram] has a bad game, DeAndre is the first text he gets that night. That stuff is invisible, but it’s real.”

Comparing the Finalists: What Set Jordan Apart

Let’s be clear: Jrue Holiday and Jeff Green are both worthy of this award. Holiday, now with Portland, is a two-time NBA Sportsmanship Award winner and has been a vocal advocate for mental health awareness. Green, a former No. 5 overall pick who overcame a heart condition, is the spiritual leader of a young Rockets team.

So why Jordan? The difference may be longevity of sacrifice. Holiday is still an elite two-way player averaging 17 points per game. Green is still a productive rotation player. Jordan, however, is a player who has fully embraced the end of his career as a non-statistical contributor. He has zero illusions about his role. He is not chasing a contract extension or a starting job. He is simply there to serve his teammates.

That level of self-awareness and humility resonates deeply with players. In a league where egos often collide, DeAndre Jordan represents the ideal of a veteran who puts the team above himself.

Predictions: What This Award Means for the Pelicans’ Future

The New Orleans Pelicans are at a crossroads. They have a superstar in Zion Williamson, a scoring wing in Brandon Ingram, and a dynamic guard in CJ McCollum. But they have been plagued by injuries and inconsistency, failing to advance past the first round of the playoffs.

Winning the Teammate of the Year award is a cultural milestone for this franchise. It signals that the Pelicans are building a locker room that prioritizes connection over individual accolades. Here are three predictions for how this impacts the team moving forward:

• Increased Veteran Retention: Young players like Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones have repeatedly praised Jordan’s mentorship. Expect the Pelicans’ front office to prioritize veteran leadership in future free-agent signings, following the blueprint Jordan has laid.
• Trade Value for Jordan: While Jordan is not a star on the court, his reputation as a locker room asset makes him a valuable trade chip for contenders. A team like the Phoenix Suns or Los Angeles Lakers could view him as the missing piece for a championship culture. Don’t be surprised if he is moved before the 2026 deadline.
• Playoff Chemistry Boost: If the Pelicans make a deep run next season, look back at this award as the turning point. When the pressure mounts in a Game 7, teams with strong internal relationships—like Jordan fosters—tend to execute better down the stretch.

Conclusion: The True Meaning of Teammate of the Year

In an NBA landscape obsessed with “load management,” super teams, and individual brand building, the Teammate of the Year award is a refreshing reminder of what the game is really about. It’s not about the money or the fame. It’s about the man who stays late to rebound for a rookie. It’s about the guy who gives up his seat on the plane so a younger player can sit with his family. It’s about the veteran who, despite having nothing left to prove, proves every day that he cares about the people next to him.

DeAndre Jordan is that man. He narrowly beat out Jrue Holiday and Jeff Green, but in the eyes of the league’s players, he is the standard. For a Pelicans team searching for an identity, Jordan’s award is a beacon. It says: We value character. We value sacrifice. And we are building something that lasts.

Congratulations, DeAndre. You didn’t need another dunk contest. You didn’t need another All-Star game. You just needed your peers to tell the world what they already knew—that you are the best teammate in the NBA. And in a league full of stars, that might just be the most important title of all.

Source: Based on news from ESPN.

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