Oct 24, 2025, 11:13 AM ET
Free agent center DeAndre Jordan is joining the New Orleans Pelicans on a one-year, $3.6 million contract, Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports Management told ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The Pelicans announced Jordan’s hiring Friday without disclosing terms.
In New Orleans, Jordan will look to find playing time on a front line led by star Pelicans big man Zion Williamson, who has missed at least 12 games in every year of his NBA career. The Pelicans are without center Kevon Looney, who is missing the start of the season with a left knee injury. They used a trio of centers — Yves Missi and rookies Derik Queen and Hunter Dickinson — during their season-opening loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday.
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Missi, who started Wednesday’s game, is questionable to play Friday against the San Antonio Spurs after twisting his right ankle against the Grizzlies. He is listed as day-to-day.
Jordan was with the Pelicans on Friday morning and was expected to be available to play against the Spurs.
A three-time All-NBA center and 2023 champion with the Denver Nuggets, he is entering his 18th season in the league. Jordan, 37, had spent the past three seasons with the Nuggets.
Brought in to be a veteran leader in Denver’s locker room, Jordan often proved to be the Nuggets’ most reliable option at backup center, and he appeared in 56 games last season, his most since 2020-21, while averaging 3.7 points and 5.1 rebounds in 12.3 minutes per game.
Jordan has appeared in 1,111 career games with 791 starts. The Pelicans are his eighth NBA team.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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