UConn revealed on Thursday that Ben Gordon will be inducted into the Huskies of Honor on February 7. The ceremony will occur during halftime of UConn’s Big East game against the St. John’s Red Storm at Gampel Pavilion.
Gordon, originally from Mount Vernon, New York, was a significant player for the Huskies from 2001 to 2004 and contributed to UConn’s national championship team in 2004 with Emeka Okafor. Throughout his career in Storrs, he averaged 16.9 points and 4.1 assists per game, and he currently ranks seventh in program history for scoring with a total of 1,795 points. He also possesses the school record with 2.32 three-pointers made each game.
Gordon’s finest season occurred in 2004, during which he averaged 18.5 points and 4.5 assists per game, receiving Big East Tournament MVP, Final Four Most Outstanding Player, and Final Four All-Tournament recognition as a key player in the Huskies’ championship journey. Gordon tallied 36 points in UConn’s Elite Eight triumph against Alabama and contributed 21 points in the championship game win over Georgia Tech.
Following his period at UConn, Gordon was chosen as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls, starting a prosperous 11-year career. Gordon earned the 2005 NBA Sixth Man of the Year title while with the Bulls and later played for Detroit, Charlotte, and Orlando, averaging close to 15 points per game throughout his career.
The recognition has been overdue for Gordon, who faced difficulties with his mental health following his NBA career. He participated in the 2004 UConn team’s induction into the Huskies of Honor last season to celebrate the team’s 20th anniversary, and now he will be properly recognized as one of the program’s greatest legends.
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