Ben Gordon is a former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 11 seasons. He was born on April 4, 1983, in London, England, and grew up in Mount Vernon, New York. Gordon attended the University of Connecticut, where he played college basketball for two seasons before declaring for the NBA draft in 2004.
Gordon was selected third overall by the Chicago Bulls in the 2004 NBA draft. He quickly established himself as one of the league's top young players, winning the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award in his rookie season. Gordon was known for his scoring ability, particularly his three-point shooting, and was a key player for the Bulls during his five seasons with the team.
In 2009, Gordon signed with the Detroit Pistons as a free agent. He continued to be a productive scorer for the Pistons, but the team struggled to make the playoffs during his time there. Gordon was traded to the Charlotte Bobcats in 2012, where he played for one season before being waived.
Gordon then signed with the Orlando Magic in 2014, but his time with the team was marred by injuries and he played in only 56 games over two seasons. He was waived by the Magic in 2016 and did not play in the NBA again.
Throughout his career, Gordon was known for his ability to score in bunches and hit clutch shots. He was a two-time NBA All-Star and won a gold medal with the United States national team at the 2003 FIBA Americas Championship.
Off the court, Gordon has been involved in various philanthropic endeavors, including the Ben Gordon Center in DeKalb, Illinois, which provides mental health and substance abuse treatment services. He has also been open about his own struggles with depression and anxiety.
Overall, Ben Gordon had a successful NBA career as a high-scoring shooting guard. While he never won a championship, he was a valuable contributor to several teams and was recognized as one of the league's top players during his prime.
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