Greatness not Fame

From head-to-toe, everything about Eric Gordon's wardrobe conveyed fresh. On his feet, the 6-foot-4, Los Angeles Clippers rookie shooting guard sported a brand new pair of blue-and-black Adidas. On the back of his jersey, his name in stitched, white lettering rippled with every sweeping step as he strolled around the floor at Conseco Fieldhouse. From a glance, Gordon, once a starry-eyed hoopster, appeared light years from being the same seven-year-old kid that fueled his passion for roundball at the historical Municipal Gardens in his native city of Indianapolis. Then a few cheers in the crowd instigated a smile. The same nonchalant grin he touted as he led coach Doug Mitchell's North Central Panthers to the 2007 State Finals. It was the identical expression the 2008 Big Ten Freshman of the Year flashed when he stood inside the Jewish Community Center just across from his boyhood home, to announce he was leaving Indiana University early for the NBA draft. Catching a glimpse of some young, adoring fans in attendance in downtown Indianapolis to see him play the Indiana Pacers, it seemed not much had really changed - except the price tags on his new duds. "He's the same kid he was before," his father, Eric Gordon, Sr. remarked. "He's a homegrown kid. He's always been a level-headed kid." Going from YMCA gym rat to high school phenom to seventh overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft, you might expect the contrary. Yet, since he was named Indiana's Mr. Basketball and McDonald's All-American two years ago, Gordon, 20, has soared, and he's done it the right way - by staying true to his nature both on and off the court. With gratitude that runs just as deep as his Indiana roots, the former All-American has been actively working to make a name for himself in the NBA, but more importantly though, he's made it a point to give back to the same community he credits for his present-day success. In an effort to show his appreciation, "E.J." formed the Eric Gordon Foundation (ericgordon10.com) while spending most of his in-season time more than 2,000 miles away in Los Angeles. The foundation, created prior to the new year with the assistance of his family and friends, is geared toward teaching the youth in both the cities of Indianapolis and Los Angeles to strive for greatness in athletics, academics and in community service. Additionally, the organization sponsors the Eric Gordon All-Stars, an amateur basketball program consisting of AAU players from the Central Indiana area, designed to invoke sportsmanship, discipline and character. The foundation also reaches out to the elderly by assisting with health screenings in an effort to fight against and prevent disease. "There's going to be a lot of things I'm going to do in Indiana as far as basketball and for little kids and the elderly," Gordon said. "Not only do you want to be a good player, you want to be a good citizen. It's about the community. That's what it's really about." On the court, Gordon has embraced his opportunity, winning over his teammates and the franchise with his genuine nature. Using his ingrained work ethic, the undersized shooting guard went from being married to the Clippers' bench to becoming entrenched in the starting lineup. After being inserted into the starting lineup, Gordon has gone on a tear offensively, becoming the first rookie in franchise history to score 24-plus points in his first two starts. But his athleticism and knack as a defender have impressed coach Mike Dunleavy and his teammates the most. "The young guy is tough," said Clippers forward Zach Randolph, a former Indiana All-Star at Marion High School. "He keeps getting better and better. He works, man. He just works." Ten days after his 20th birthday, which happens to fall on Christmas day, Gordon established an NBA career high with 31 points against Detroit. In his next start, he upped that mark to 32 points and continues to gain confidence as he adjusts to the NBA game. "On nights where he's banging down his shots, he's almost unstoppable," Dunleavy said. "I think everyone in Indiana has seen that happen before. He's learned a lot." And yet, he's stayed the same. And in the summer, he intends to come back to where it all started to continue working on both his jumper and on his foundation. "As soon as the season's over, you'll probably see him the next day at the Jewish Community Center, shooting around and working out," Gordon Sr. said. "He just loves the community and he's looking forward to getting back."