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Eddie Jordan (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Edward Montgomery "Eddie" Jordan (born January 29, 1955 in Washington, D.C.
) is a retired American
professional basketball
player and former coach of the Philadelphia 76ers
, Washington Wizards
and Sacramento Kings
in the NBA
.
from 1973–1977, and led the school to the 1976 NCAA Final Four
, during which he was named East Regional MVP. At Rutgers, Jordan acquired the nickname "Fast Eddie." In his senior season, Jordan was named honorable mention All-America, while setting Rutgers' all-time career records in assists (585) and steals (220). Jordan graduated from Rutgers in 1977 with a degree in health and physical education.
Jordan was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers
in the second round of the 1977 NBA Draft
(33rd overall), and was acquired by the New Jersey Nets
halfway through his rookie season. Jordan tied Norm Nixon
(Los Angeles Lakers) for the lead in total steals with 201 in 1978-1979
, and was second in total steals, 223, in 1979–80 (behind the New York Knicks
' Micheal Ray Richardson
with 265).
Jordan played for the Los Angeles Lakers
during the 1980–81 season, and was a member of the 1982 NBA World Championship team
. He played for the Lakers for four years and then played briefly with the Portland Trail Blazers
. Jordan retired from the NBA after the 1983–84 season. Over his seven-year NBA career, Jordan averaged 8.1 points, 3.8 assists and 1.82 steals per game.
under his former college head coach, and his former Wizards' assistant, Tom Young
. Jordan followed Young to Old Dominion University as a part-time assistant as before and subsequently obtained an assistant coaching position at Boston College
under Jim O'Brien in 1986. He also became an assistant coach at Rutgers
in 1988.
, and remained as one for five seasons. Jordan was promoted to head coach on March 20, 1997 during the final fifteen games of the 1996–97 regular season and remained the head coach during the 1997–98 season where he compiled a 33–64 record as the King’s head coach. Jordan was later fired after the 1997–98 season.
and was introduced as head coach of the team on June 19, 2003.
Washington finished with a 25–57 record during Jordan's inaugural season as head coach. The following year, Jordan helped guide the Wizards to a 20-game improvement in 2004–05. Only the Chicago Bulls
and Phoenix Suns
experienced a greater improvement in total wins from the previous year.
On April 11, 2005 Jordan won his 100th career game as a head coach, and improved his career record to 103-158. During the 2004–05 regular season, Jordan’s second with the Wizards, he led the team to a 45–37 record, which was the franchise’s best season since 1978–79. The record established a new record for wins in a season at Verizon Center
, earned the team a five seed in the Eastern Conference, and was the Wizards' first playoff berth since the 1996–97 season. The Wizards played the fourth seeded Chicago Bulls
and won the series four games to two. The team rallied from a 0–2 deficit to win the series with four consecutive wins. It was the team's first postseason series win since 1982.
in 1978–79.
for the third straight year.
On Thursday, April 15, Jordan was fired by the 76ers after one season. Later that month, it was reported that Jordan had been one of the leading candidates for the head coaching vacancy at his alma mater, Rutgers, but had pulled out of the running to continue to seek a new coaching job in the NBA.
| align="left" |SAC
| align="left" |
|15||6||9||.400|| align="center" |6th in Pacific||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |Missed Playoffs
|-
| align="left" |SAC
| align="left" |
|82||27||55||.329|| align="center" |5th in Pacific||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |Missed Playoffs
|-
| align="left" |WAS
| align="left" |
|82||25||57||.305|| align="center" |6th in Atlantic||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |Missed Playoffs
|-
| align="left" |WAS
| align="left" |
|82||45||37||.549|| align="center" |2nd in Southeast||10||4||6||.400
| align="center" |Lost in Conf. Semifinals
|-
| align="left" |WAS
| align="left" |
|82||42||40||.512|| align="center" |2nd in Southeast||6||2||4||.333
| align="center" |Lost in First Round
|-
| align="left" |WAS
| align="left" |
|82||41||41||.500|| align="center" |2nd in Southeast||4||0||4||.000
| align="center" |Lost in First Round
|-
| align="left" |WAS
| align="left" |
|82||43||39||.524|| align="center" |2nd in Southeast||6||2||4||.333
| align="center" |Lost in First Round
|-
| align="left" |WAS
| align="left" |
|11||1||10||.091|| align="center" |(fired)||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |—
|-
| align="left" |PHI
| align="left" |
|82||27||55||.329|| align="center" |4th in Atlantic||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |Missed Playoffs
|-class="sortbottom"
| align="left" |Career
| ||600||257||343||.428|| ||26||8||18||.308
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
) is a retired American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player and former coach of the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
, Washington Wizards
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
and Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
in the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
.
Collegiate and pro career
Jordan attended Rutgers UniversityRutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
from 1973–1977, and led the school to the 1976 NCAA Final Four
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
, during which he was named East Regional MVP. At Rutgers, Jordan acquired the nickname "Fast Eddie." In his senior season, Jordan was named honorable mention All-America, while setting Rutgers' all-time career records in assists (585) and steals (220). Jordan graduated from Rutgers in 1977 with a degree in health and physical education.
Jordan was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
in the second round of the 1977 NBA Draft
1977 NBA Draft
The 1977 NBA Draft was the 31st annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on June 10, 1977 before the 1977–78 season. In this draft, 22 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
(33rd overall), and was acquired by the New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
halfway through his rookie season. Jordan tied Norm Nixon
Norm Nixon
Norman Ellard "Norm" Nixon is a retired American professional basketball player for the NBA, who spent twelve seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers.-Early life:...
(Los Angeles Lakers) for the lead in total steals with 201 in 1978-1979
1978-79 NBA season
The 1978–79 NBA season was the 33rd season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Seattle SuperSonics winning the NBA Championship, beating the Washington Bullets 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals, a rematch of the previous year's Finals, but with the opposite...
, and was second in total steals, 223, in 1979–80 (behind the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
' Micheal Ray Richardson
Micheal Ray Richardson
Micheal Ray "Sugar" Richardson is an American former professional basketball player and currently the head coach of the London Lightning of the National Basketball League of Canada. Richardson played college basketball for the Montana Grizzlies...
with 265).
Jordan played for the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
during the 1980–81 season, and was a member of the 1982 NBA World Championship team
1982 NBA Finals
The 1982 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1981-82 NBA season, the top level of competition in men's professional basketball in North America. The series saw the Los Angeles Lakers face the Philadelphia 76ers....
. He played for the Lakers for four years and then played briefly with the Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
. Jordan retired from the NBA after the 1983–84 season. Over his seven-year NBA career, Jordan averaged 8.1 points, 3.8 assists and 1.82 steals per game.
NCAA
After retiring from the NBA in 1984, Jordan was a volunteer assistant at Rutgers UniversityRutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
under his former college head coach, and his former Wizards' assistant, Tom Young
Tom Young (basketball coach)
Tom Young is an American basketball coach best known for being head coach at American University. He also coached at Rutgers University, Catholic University and Old Dominion University. At Rutgers Young was coach of the 1976 Scarlet Knights, a team noted for having an undefeated regular season...
. Jordan followed Young to Old Dominion University as a part-time assistant as before and subsequently obtained an assistant coaching position at Boston College
Boston College Eagles men's basketball
The Boston College Eagles are a Division I college basketball program that represents Boston College in Chestnut Hill, MA. The team has competed in the ACC since 2005, having previously played in the Big East. Home games have been played at the Conte Forum since 1988, having previously been played...
under Jim O'Brien in 1986. He also became an assistant coach at Rutgers
Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights Men's Basketball team represents Rutgers University and is a NCAA Division I college basketball team, which competes in the Big East Conference...
in 1988.
Kings
In 1992, Jordan became an assistant coach with the Sacramento KingsSacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, and remained as one for five seasons. Jordan was promoted to head coach on March 20, 1997 during the final fifteen games of the 1996–97 regular season and remained the head coach during the 1997–98 season where he compiled a 33–64 record as the King’s head coach. Jordan was later fired after the 1997–98 season.
Nets
Jordan joined the Nets coaching staff on March 17, 1999 and served as the lead assistant for four seasons. While in New Jersey, Jordan helped guide the squad to consecutive Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference Championships in 2002 and 2003.2003–06
Later that year, Jordan signed a four-year contract worth a little more than $3 million per year with the Washington WizardsWashington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
and was introduced as head coach of the team on June 19, 2003.
Washington finished with a 25–57 record during Jordan's inaugural season as head coach. The following year, Jordan helped guide the Wizards to a 20-game improvement in 2004–05. Only the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
and Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
experienced a greater improvement in total wins from the previous year.
On April 11, 2005 Jordan won his 100th career game as a head coach, and improved his career record to 103-158. During the 2004–05 regular season, Jordan’s second with the Wizards, he led the team to a 45–37 record, which was the franchise’s best season since 1978–79. The record established a new record for wins in a season at Verizon Center
Verizon Center
Verizon Center is a sports and entertainment arena in Washington, D.C., USA, named after telecommunications sponsor Verizon Communications, and has been nicknamed the "Phone Booth" because of its association with telecommunications companies...
, earned the team a five seed in the Eastern Conference, and was the Wizards' first playoff berth since the 1996–97 season. The Wizards played the fourth seeded Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
and won the series four games to two. The team rallied from a 0–2 deficit to win the series with four consecutive wins. It was the team's first postseason series win since 1982.
2006–07
In the 2006–07 season, Jordan guided the Wizards to a third straight playoff berth for the first time since 1988. Jordan won the Coach of the Month award for December, guiding Washington to a 12–4 record during that month. Jordan coached the Eastern Conference All-Stars at the NBA All-Star Game on February 18 in Las Vegas, the first coach from the franchise since Dick MottaDick Motta
John Richard "Dick" Motta is a former basketball coach whose career in the National Basketball Association spanned 25 years, and he continues to rank among the NBA's all-time top 10 in coaching victories....
in 1978–79.
2007–08
In the 2007–08 season Jordan led the Wizards to a fourth straight playoff berth despite beginning the year 0–5. The Wizards were eliminated in the first round by the Cleveland CavaliersCleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
for the third straight year.
Firing
Jordan was fired as head coach of the Washington Wizards on November 24, 2008 after a 1–10 start. At the time of his firing Jordan was the longest tenured coach in the Eastern Conference and as their coach he guided the Wizards to four straight playoff appearances, advancing only once. He compiled a regular season record of 197–224. The 197 victories rank third all-time in franchise history.2009 - 2010
Jordan was officially introduced as the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers on June 1, 2009.On Thursday, April 15, Jordan was fired by the 76ers after one season. Later that month, it was reported that Jordan had been one of the leading candidates for the head coaching vacancy at his alma mater, Rutgers, but had pulled out of the running to continue to seek a new coaching job in the NBA.
Coaching record
|-| align="left" |SAC
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
| align="left" |
|15||6||9||.400|| align="center" |6th in Pacific||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |Missed Playoffs
|-
| align="left" |SAC
| align="left" |
|82||27||55||.329|| align="center" |5th in Pacific||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |Missed Playoffs
|-
| align="left" |WAS
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
| align="left" |
|82||25||57||.305|| align="center" |6th in Atlantic||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |Missed Playoffs
|-
| align="left" |WAS
| align="left" |
|82||45||37||.549|| align="center" |2nd in Southeast||10||4||6||.400
| align="center" |Lost in Conf. Semifinals
2005 NBA Playoffs
The 2005 NBA Playoffs was the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2004–05 season.The San Antonio Spurs, the number two ranked team in the Western Conference, won the 2005 NBA Playoffs by defeating the defending champions, the Detroit Pistons, 4-3 in the NBA Finals...
|-
| align="left" |WAS
| align="left" |
|82||42||40||.512|| align="center" |2nd in Southeast||6||2||4||.333
| align="center" |Lost in First Round
2006 NBA Playoffs
The 2006 NBA Playoffs was the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2005–06 season. The Miami Heat won the first championship in the history of the franchise by defeating the Dallas Mavericks 4-2 in the 2006 NBA Finals...
|-
| align="left" |WAS
| align="left" |
|82||41||41||.500|| align="center" |2nd in Southeast||4||0||4||.000
| align="center" |Lost in First Round
2007 NBA Playoffs
The 2007 NBA Playoffs was the postseason to the National Basketball Association's 2006–2007 season.There were four rounds of postseason action, all of them in a best-of-seven format, with teams seeded on a bracket. The team with the better record wasn't necessarily the basis of seeding teams in...
|-
| align="left" |WAS
| align="left" |
|82||43||39||.524|| align="center" |2nd in Southeast||6||2||4||.333
| align="center" |Lost in First Round
2008 NBA Playoffs
The 2008 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2007–08 season which ended with the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4–2....
|-
| align="left" |WAS
| align="left" |
|11||1||10||.091|| align="center" |(fired)||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |—
|-
| align="left" |PHI
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
| align="left" |
|82||27||55||.329|| align="center" |4th in Atlantic||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |Missed Playoffs
|-class="sortbottom"
| align="left" |Career
| ||600||257||343||.428|| ||26||8||18||.308
Personal
Eddie and his wife, Charrisse, have two children, a son, Jackson, and daughter, Skylar. Eddie has three other sons: Justin and Eddie II from his first marriage, and Paul from an earlier relationship.External links
- Eddie Jordan player profile. - Basketball-Reference.com.
- Eddie Jordan coaching profile. - Basketball-Reference.com.