Jordan McLaughlin on his Journey to the NBA

Over the summer, Prodigy Alumni Jordan McLaughlin signed a 3-year contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves, marking a massive milestone for the 25-year-old guard.

From Etiwanda High to USC to the G League, and now to the NBA, J-Mac’s path to the league is a testament to hard work and dedication to his craft. “Take every day as a blessing, whether you have a good day or a bad day. Continue to push through,” he says.

Ahead of the 2021-22 NBA season, Jordan shares insights into his experience in the NBA, how he became involved with the Prodigy Program, how he took advantage of his USC scholarship, and more.

Congratulations J-Mac. How do you feel heading into this season after signing a 3-year contract compared to previous seasons?

It feels great. The first two years I was here, I was on a 2-way contract. With the 2-way contract, you’re only allotted a certain amount of days and games you can play in and so there’d be some game days where I’d have to ask, coach, am I dressing up tonight? Am I suiting up?

So to mentally prepare for that, whether you’re playing or not playing… It was kind of tough but, for me to sign a 3-year deal and having more of a structure, knowing I'll be suiting up every single night… not having to worry about those little things will be pretty great for me and my mental approach to every single day.

Were there any takeaways being on that 2-way contract that you feel will help you going forward in your career?

For sure. All that stuff I mentioned, about not knowing if I was going to play or not an hour before a game or being in Iowa and getting called up to Minnesota or wherever the team is at. Just to have that mindset to always stay ready. That’s one big takeaway from that experience. Always keeping a mindset of staying ready, whether I play or not play. Just be ready to go when my opportunity is called.

What’s one thing about playing in the NBA that is exactly as you imagined it as a kid? And one thing that surprised you?

I mean it’s all surprising! Like looking at it and dreaming about it and then being here… it’s a blessing. For me to not have to go to work and clock in and clock out… for me to have a dream job of playing basketball and getting paid a lot of money to do it, it’s a blessing. It’s a great opportunity for myself to help provide for myself and my family. And so I’m happy for all of it. 

The only thing that I guess you could say surprises me is actually how long an 82-game season really is. You’re playing a lot of games. You’re traveling a lot. You’re hopping on the plane. You’re in one city one day and the next day, you’re in a whole other state and city so, I would say the whole 82 game slate is pretty tough and surprising.

With all that traveling, what do you do to pass the time? Books? Podcasts?

So I made it one of my new year's resolutions to read a little bit more this year. I do plan on taking a couple books and stuff on the road. But normally, I’m binge watching some type of show. I’m usually watching TV shows and movies.

You mentioned before it was always a dream of yours to play in the NBA. Was there a specific moment when you realized that it could actually be a reality? I mean a lot of kids dream of making it to the league and not everyone does.

I never doubted myself. I’ve had to take a longer route than some people, you could say. I didn’t get drafted. I played in the G-League and then I was on a 2-way. And now finally converting to a standard NBA contract. There was never a time I doubted myself or said I wasn’t going to be in the NBA. I know and trust in how much I work I put in, in the off-season, during the season, every single day. I try to figure out some type of way to make myself better and just prove that I am able to do what I can do on the court.

Growing up, was that belief in yourself something you always had?

Yeah, always. I’ve always had the confidence and the belief in myself. Because, like I said, I put in a lot of work. I’m not one to go posting on Instagram every single day that I’m in the gym. Me and my trainers, and the Prodigy program, everything we do is for ourselves. We go in, prove our work, and when it comes to game time, our work is shown. That’s kind of what we hold our hat on.

When did you get involved with Prodigy?

It’s a funny story. I had a friend in 6th grade, Mike. He would go to Cam’s training camp in the summers where they would go to Citrus college and run the stairs or go into the gym and run the track and then go back into the gym and so I went with Mike one day out to the sand dunes. I was there just to kind of watch and see how the work out was going with intentions to maybe join the camp the following week.

The guys were running the sand dunes all the way up and all the way down. The guys were kind of struggling and Cam was like, I bet someone $100 they can’t run up and run down this whole thing, non-stop. I’m just sitting there, in 6th grade, so I’m a little younger, I’m thinking...  this mountain? I’m like yeah I’ll do it. So I took off my shoes and started at the bottom, ran up and down. Cam was mad I took that hundred from him. So that’s how it started and I’ve been with Prodigy ever since.

How has the program and working with Cam helped you?

Cam is a straight up guy. Everything he does, he doesn’t do it for his benefit. He doesn’t care who comes through the program and what they give to him. It’s more what he gives to the kids. He doesn’t ask for anything in return. 

He wants to give the kids the opportunity he might not have had and show them the ropes based on his experiences. The biggest thing for the Prodigy program is to get these kids through school for free, on a basketball scholarship.

He’s produced a lot of kids through the program that have gained scholarships, whether it’s NAIA, D3, D2, D1, whatever the case is. The main goal is getting these kids an opportunity to view the opportunity that is outside of the Inland Empire, play basketball and get a degree for free.

When you were at USC, how did you try to take full advantage of playing on the team but also in the classroom?

I took full advantage. I graduated from high school and I couldn’t celebrate. That night I drove out to USC and I slept in my dorm that night and I had class at 8AM the next morning. I was in summer school every single summer. Using the scholarship I had, I got my degree in 3 years and then worked on getting my masters in Communications Management that 4th year and now I’m finishing up online. I have one more class to go til I’m completely done, so I’m excited for that.

But just using that scholarship for free to my full advantage to get both of my degrees and not pay any student loans.

That’s pretty special. Finishing your degree in 3 years, especially with your practice schedule. What was your mindset like going into that?

I’m pretty good with mapping things out. I know what I have to do in order to get things done that I want to get done. So when I set out a couple goals and timelines of what I want to get done as far as school work, going into the gym, being able to put in extra work when I can, and just building a schedule to where I’m able to get ahead. I’m pretty organized in how I operate on and off the court.

That’s that point guard mindset. 

[Laughs] Yeah for sure. That definitely plays a part. To be organized, it’s just like organizing a team and making sure everybody is in the right spots.

Would you say that you’ve always had that mindset? Or is it something that you developed?

I’ve had a sense of it, you could say. Some people are born with it but as you’re put in different scenarios in games and learning from a guy like Cam Murray or D’Angelo Russell or Pablo Prigioni, as you’re presented with different challenges and obstacles, say through a game in a game, you kind of learn what works and what doesn’t work. That comes from watching film as well. So it’s half and half. Being born with it and learning as well.

What’s something that you worked on this summer that you’re excited to showcase headed into the season?

The biggest thing for me has been being able to knock down shots consistently. Whether that’s catch and shoot, a lot of guards try to go under on my ball screens and limit my play in that way so being able to knock down jumpers coming off pick and rolls will take my game to another level. That was kind of one of my focal points this summer.

Do you have any personal goals headed into this season?

My personal goal is to just give it my all every single night. To just continue to prove that I belong in the NBA. I’m able to make good plays and whatever I can do to help my team win. That’s always been my biggest thing: competing and winning as many games as I can.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received from a teammate or coach?

From a teammate, one thing that I learned and I say now is: it’s an 82 game season. It’s a lot of things that happen. God forbid, there are injuries that come along, someone might have an off-night, someone may be on fire. It’s a rollercoaster. There’s a wave of things that could happen. The biggest thing is to stay ready. When your opportunity comes, whatever the situation is.

From coaches… I’ve learned a lot from different coaches. Cam is always showing me different ways to manipulate the game, manipulate plays, and things like that. From other coaches… is to go out there and give it your all. No matter what happens. You might not have a good night but if you try your hardest, the other little things will take care of themselves.

What about something you learned, not even just as a player, but as a human?

Everything is about competing, whether that’s in basketball or most importantly, life. Everything you are competing for, day in and day out. Whether that’s a position on the court or a job position. If you’re playing a video game, a board game, whatever it is, you’re competing. So to go out there and want to have the will and fight to win is the biggest thing.

If you could give some advice to current Prodigy Players, what would that be? 

Fall in love with the grind. Whether it's an 82 game season or just life going up and down. You’re going to have good days and bad days but learn to fall in love with the process of putting in your work every single day. Whether you want to or don’t want to. Once you find that love, it’s going to be great to get in there every single day.

Have you always had that mentality?

I’ve always loved basketball. There’s never been a time that I was like, I don’t want to go hoop or I don’t want to go practice. I didn’t fall in love love with the process until my later years in high school. Working out every single day, doing things that would make me better. Watching film. Doing all the little things to try and gain an advantage. I probably didn’t figure that out until my last few years of high school. But I’ve always loved going to work out and get a sweat in.

Looking back at your career so far, what would you say are the 3 most important moments in your journey and why?

First, all the AAU events and van rides to different places, Vegas, Oregon. Just the bond and family that you form on all those road trips are amazing. We’re literally a family, the Prodigy program. We’ve been through it all. Good things and bad things. At the end of the day, we hug it out and go the same way.

Second, My injuries. My shoulder injuries taught me a lot. To be patient. To pray on things and to continue to battle and grind. Embrace everything that is presented in front of you and to keep going to matter what.

Third, probably signing my contract. Being able to get that done and to have financial and mental stability going forward in my professional career.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.