The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) tips off its 2021 season June 24, and CEBL Canadian of the Year (2020), Jordan Baker is ready to be running the court again.聽
鈥淚 think the league has worked very hard with all seven teams to finally get back to work,鈥� said the Edmonton Stinger in a recent interview.聽
Baker, who recently re-signed with the Stingers for his third year, said the CEBL has gotten better in each of its first two seasons, even if 2020 was a shortened one played in a bubble due to COVID-19.聽
鈥淚 think the first year there were a lot of question marks,鈥� said Baker, everyone, players included wondered initially at just how 鈥榩rofessional鈥� the CEBL would be.聽
The league answered the questions through 2019, an inaugural season which culminated with the Saskatchewan Rattlers winning the championship.聽
鈥淚 think all the boxes got checked,鈥� said Baker, whose Stingers were on the losing side of an 85-83 score to the Rattlers in the semi-finals.聽
They sure checked for Baker who was the league鈥檚 leading rebounder, named to the All-CEBL Second team, and a finalist for the 2019 CEBL Player of the Year.聽
Since year one went well, and even with the COVID bubble, Baker said the league is now attracting better players, ones with time in pro leagues in Europe on the NBA G League, and a few with a cup of coffee in the NBA.聽
Along the way the CEBL provides a makeable professional goal for Canadian players without heading to Europe, something Baker said is not always easy.聽
He should know, having played college with the University of Alberta Golden Bears.聽
In his fifth year with the University of Alberta Golden Bears, Baker averaged 17.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game in 22 games, earning 22 starting assignments. Baker had an illustrious career with the University of Alberta Golden Bears. He was named to the CIS All-Rookie Team in 2010 and CIS First Team All-Canadian in both 2012 and 2014. By the time his career with the University of Alberta was over Baker was the all-time leader in career points, rebounds, assists, steals, and minutes played.聽
After college Baker played professionally in Germany, Portugal, and Japan. During that time, he has played with the Canadian National Team and continues to compete internationally for Team Edmonton in FIBA 3X3.聽
He聽joined the Edmonton Stingers in the inaugural season when he was selected 23rd overall in the 2019 CEBL entry draft.聽
Growing up in Edmonton getting a chance 鈥渢o play professional basketball back here . . . is special,鈥� he said.聽
It doesn鈥檛 hurt the Stingers won the championship in 2020 with a 90-73 victory over Fraser Valley.
During the 2020 CEBL Summer Series Baker averaged 12.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.3 steals, 3.8 assists, and 28.3 minutes while leading the league in rebounds per game for the second year in a row, ranked first in 2-point field goal percentage (61.1), fifth in field goal percentage (56.7) and fifth in assists (3.8).聽聽
As for his Canadian of the Year Award, Baker was quick to share the accolades.聽
鈥淚t鈥檚 a team award more than anything,鈥� he said, adding his success came as the result 鈥渙f a lot of hard work from my teammates.鈥澛�
Baker also hit back-to-back game-winning shots in Elam Ending time against the Niagara River Lions and the Saskatchewan Rattlers.聽聽
For those unfamiliar, Elam Ending is basically, the first time the game clock is stopped with 4:00 minutes or less in the fourth quarter of each game, timed play will end and a target score will be set, equal to the leading team鈥檚 score plus nine.聽
Baker might have scored a couple of Elam Ending winners, but he adds he鈥檚 not a fan.聽
鈥淚鈥檓 not a huge fan of it to be perfectly honest,鈥� said Baker, adding the league might not like that opinion. 鈥�... You get a game-winning shot every night ... But, it鈥檚 a bit gimmicky to me.鈥澛�
Baker said in normal rules the last few minutes of a game is where coaches really can impact things with wise time-outs and set plays, things which are less important with the Elam Ending.聽聽
And, coaching is something Baker is beginning to learn more about taking a position with Northern Alberta Institute of Technology.聽
鈥淚鈥檓 not going to be able to get up and down the court when I鈥檓 45,鈥� he joked in regards to beginning to coach, but then added seriously, if the opportunity arises on day to take the helm in the CEBL he would be interested.聽
Baker and the Stingers begin defence of their championship June 26, hosting Hamilton. The same day the Saskatchewan Rattlers head west to face Fraser Valley.
