DeAndre Jordan a perfect fit for USA

LOS ANGELES (Rio 2016 Olympics) - When DeAndre Jordan patrols the paint like he owns it in international basketball for the USA, he wears an intimidating look that makes all opponents think twice before they attempt a shot.

Don't let his glare fool you, though, because as mean and nasty as he is on the court, Jordan is about as funny as they come off it. The USA's Olympic gold-medal winning hero has spoken to FIBA.com.

FIBA.com: There are always plenty of options for Team USA to consider when putting their team together. Did you expect to be on the Olympic team before it was announced?
Jordan: Yes, the list is always huge. We knew this year that they would pick the guys. Coach K (Mike Krzyzewski) came to me and ask me what I was doing this summer and I told him 'hopefully playing for you!' (Laughs). He told me that he wanted me to play and asked me if I was ready and I just told him 'absolutely'. Once he called me, I was so excited and I called my family. I continued to work out and got prepared for the competition.

Jordan helped keep the USA loose and happy in Rio

FIBA.com: What was your biggest Olympic memory before you got to Rio?
Jordan: So many of them. Watching the Dream Team play and also watching Vince Carter jumping over that guy (France's Frederic Weis) in Sydney (2000), that was nuts! Probably one of the coolest dunks I have ever seen. That was so awesome.

FIBA.com: So you've had the Olympic experience. What did you learn from it?
Jordan: I think for me it was the Team aspect. Twelve guys, coming together, putting pride aside, ego aside, individuality on the side and focusing on the one thing that was winning a gold medal. It was for our country and for us, for our amazing family and for Coach K. That's what we did. Like I said, we took some bumps, we had to figure it out but ultimately we got together and we got it, that was a great feeling.

FIBA.com: There were definitely some uncomfortable moments for the team in the Preliminary Round and against Spain in the Semi-Finals.
Jordan: Yes, we had some tough games. Australia, Serbia, Spain were good, but also France was a tough one. All those guys and those teams have been playing together since they were teenagers and they know how to play the game of basketball. They've been playing together for a while. Like I said, that was fun. Going there to represent your country fighting and ultimately winning a gold medal is something I will never forget.

Jordan was vital on both ends of the floor for the USA in Rio

FIBA.com: How different is 'FIBA ball' compared to what you are used to?
Jordan: I played (2007 FIBA U19 World Championship) for the first time when I was 17 years old, but it was not with the 'big boys' (senior team). It was a lot of fun, I had a good time, I wasn't nervous at all. At the end of the day, it is still basketball. I was just trying to be myself and just do whatever they needed me to do for the team to help them win the gold medal.

FIBA.com: And can we look forward to seeing DeAndre Jordan again put on the USA shirt at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in China or the Tokyo Olympics the following year under new coach Gregg Popovich?
Jordan: We'll see. Coach Popovich is going to do a great job with the team and hopefully we will keep the good dynamic of winning going.

FIBA