Ben Gordon is one player who has slid down from the NBA limelight but could try and recover lost ground if he makes the final roster of the defending champion Golden State Warriors.
Gordon who is now 32, was waived by the Orland Magic last June 29. Gordon had originally signed a two year deal with the Magic $9 million but the team apparently decided not to use its option for the 3rd overall pick in 2004 by the Chicago Bulls.
He was however picked up by the Golden State Warriors a couple of weeks ago though his tenure with the defending champions is still not fully guaranteed.
Could a vegetarian diet improve his chances of impressing Steve Kerr and the Warriors?
Gordon seems to be leaning on a vegetarian diet to keep himself sharp and hopefully such would become key as he tries to vie for a regular spot in the Warriors roster.
"I experimented with it this summer and the end of last season," Gordon said after attending the Warriors' first practice of the season a couple of days ago. "As you get older you try to see different things that work for you. I'm not doing it right now, but I try to do it functionally depending on how my body feels.
Gordon started out his career pretty hot, showcasing his offensive prowess with the Chicago Bulls from 2004 to 2009. He is the only player to have won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award, something that eventually capped his emphatic entry in 2004.
After his stint with the Bulls, Gordon moved over to Detroit where he signed a lucrative $55 million deal for five years. He would only stay witht the Pistons until 2012 as he was sent packing to the Charlotte Bobcat in exchange for Cory Maggette.
Gordon continued to show off his offensive talent coming off the bench, until last season where he landed in Orlando.
And now Gordon hopes to do the same, explode off the bench for the Warriors who stand to be deadlier if the 32-year-old guard does get officially signed up.
Will a slimmer Gordon at 185 pounds be a big help? Well Gordon thinks so.
"It was good," he said. "It cleaned out my system. My energy felt great."
Will that translate into better chances as he hopes to fit into the system of the Warriors which in all does seem perfect considering what he is capable of? Well Gordon believes so and he is ready to take his chances.
“I just want to come here and see if I can be in a winning situation. The past few years for me have been tough, but I think I fit in well here” says Gordon in an interview.