NEWCASTLE EAGLES’ HIGH-FLYING, TRAVELLING STAR, SETS SIGHTS ON JOINING EUROPE’S ELITE

While growing up in Charlotte, North Carolina, Justin Gordon never considered the possibility of making his way around the world to play basketball. 

“[Overseas basketball] is not something that guys were focusing on in school. It’s either ‘I’m playing basketball for fun’, or ‘I want to make it to the NBA’, and that’s it”, he explained. 

Since graduating from Wofford College in 2016 though, Gordon’s professional career has seen him play in countries like Australia, Holland, Germany and Sweden, to currently, the United Kingdom.

Now 27 years-old, the well-travelled Gordon opens up about his experiences both in college and in the professional game, including the challenges of moving around the world to chase his dreams, playing against top NBA draft picks, and his thoughts on British basketball. 

According to the NBA’s draft data from 2019, there were 18,816 participants in NCAA basketball during the 2018-2019 season.

Of those players, only 60 could have been drafted to the NBA, and that doesn’t take into account players who are drafted from overseas. That means for many, most of whom are only in their early 20’s, their basketball career ends after college.

Others make their way to minor leagues or overseas, unwilling to give up on their basketball dreams.

Gordon is one of many former college players carving out a career for himself outside of the world’s #1 league. To reiterate though, he never saw himself playing outside of the United States.

So when he graduated, Gordon wasn’t sure of what the future held.

“It was basically a 50/50. Once it wasn’t immediate, [my goal] was to get money any way, via work if necessary, but never allowing the work to take me away from being able to train all the time to be ready. 

“I graduated in May 2016, and I didn’t get a contract [to play in Australia] until December. So I’m sitting at home thinking ‘I’m not sure if I’ll be able to play’, then I signed.” 

Gordon insists that the distance from family and friends when playing overseas is something that has to be learned, not prepared for.

“I wasn’t completely oblivious to what goes on, but it’s not something you really can prepare for - it’s something you have to learn. For me though, I’ve never had any issue being on my own and living somewhere new.”

Even though he believes he has improved both on the court and off it from his time overseas, it hasn’t come without obstacles. 

“Sometimes, you’re the only American out there, or you live by yourself and don’t have teammates who are in your age range, they might have a wife and kids or be in school.”

Communication, both in his career and private life, is part of why Gordon believes his move to join the Eagles in 2020 was an easier transition. 

“It’s a huge relief mentally as far as the little things like going to the grocery store, talking to people and doing interviews. There’s no translation, and there’s no broken English or having to learn new words.” 

The differences in style between collegiate and professional basketball is another transition that players face when they turn pro, as Gordon explained. 

Those variations, along with athleticism and mentality, are often the reasons exceptional collegiate players struggle at the next level, whether that be in the NBA or overseas. 

During his time at Wofford, Gordon faced many of the country’s most elite prospects, including the 2015 NCAA Champion Duke Blue Devils. 

Amongst the eight NBA players on the roster was the third pick in that year’s draft, Jahlil Okafor. Despite winning ACC Player of the Year as a freshman though, Okafor’s career has faltered, having already played for four teams in his NBA career.

Gordon offered his thoughts on why players like Okafor, and Nik Stauskas, another high pick he faced in college, haven’t been able to make the step up to the next level.

Even though there has been progress, including the Eagles being one of the first franchises to build their own arena, the BBL still lags behind, especially in salary. 

Currently, the BBL’s salary cap is £250,000, although a team’s top two British earners are excluded. The average player is estimated to earn between £1,000 and £3,000 a month, a significantly lower amount than those in Europe’s top leagues. 

Unless the BBL can become a major league, the reality is it’s best players will leave, and Gordon’s coach Ian MacLeod’s under no illusions about the situation. 

While he describes his 18 point, 15 rebound, three assist and three block performance in the Eagles’ win over the London Lions in the 2021 BBL Cup Final as the peak of his own professional career so far, Gordon is honest about his ambitions to move on to bigger and better things. 

“Usually I go to a better league the next year, a better fit for me, or a league with better recognition as far as the respect the level of basketball has. I’m not looking to stay at the same level, I always want to get better, play in better places, and have the opportunity to keep climbing the ladder. 

“I like the team and the league, and the media is amazing. There are so many factors that have been better in my experience here than in other countries.

“If it was on the same level as the NBA, the top Spanish League, or one the world-renowned leagues, there would be no issue with me staying here. It’s just me being ambitious and trying to reach the highest level.” 

If Gordon’s level of play on the court continues, his world tour may not be done yet, and the BBL could just be one of many stamps in his passport.