Dolomiti Energia Trento big man Jordan Caroline’s road to the 7DAYS EuroCup included a stint in Taiwan that helped him recapture his love of the game.
Taiwan experience rekindled Trento forward Caroline's love of the game
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6 Mins read
Jordan Caroline considers himself a basketball junkie. If there’s a game in Venezuela, Argentina or wherever, he’ll watch it - men’s or women’s hoops. But a year ravaged by injuries began to eat away at his love of the game. Luckily, a season in Taiwan of all places rekindled that passion and now has him dominating in the 7DAYS EuroCup for Dolomiti Energia Trento.
Caroline grew up around sports. Both his father and grandfather played professional American football with major success - both playing in the National Football League.
Caroline himself experienced his fair share of great moments on the hardwood. He helped Montverde Academy to two consecutive United States high school national titles and then guided the University of Nevada Wolf Pack to three consecutive conference championships. The team played in the NCAA Tournament three times and reached the Sweet 16 in 2018.
“The Taiwan opportunity came up, and it was a great opportunity to go and re-find my love for the game of basketball.”
“All that showed me a lot of the effort it takes to prepare, that you need to have to be able to put your level to the next level, especially from a mindset standpoint. At this level, there are a lot of players who can do a lot of the same things, but what really separates you from the rest is the mindset - the way they attack the game, their approach and how they prepare for it,” Caroline explained.
What success does not automatically prepare you for is the mental drain of injuries and dealing with them - especially when they mount up, which is what happened to Caroline.
The Illinois native was signed by the Los Angeles Lakers after he finished college. He was slowed in the NBA Summer League by a left groin tear and then broke his foot in August, just before the NBA training camp started. Caroline was out until December and came back and played about four weeks and then was forced to the sidelines again in late January 2020 with right groin problems.
The COVID-19 pandemic broke out shortly thereafter and paused the entire sports world. Caroline was able to return to the court in June and July 2020, playing seven games for Israeli side Hapoel Eilat and averaging 15.3 points and 9.9 rebounds.
That performance was not enough for Caroline to get a job to start the 2020-21 season. In fact, the calendar had turned to 2021 and the forward was still without a spot.
“It was January and I hadn’t signed anywhere to play, and at that time it was rough with everything going on. It got to the point I didn’t know what I would do,” he said.
Caroline finally would return to the court in March 2021 with Jutai Technology in the Taiwan league. And Caroline dominated the semi-pro league, averaging 28.0 points, 14.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 steals.
“The Taiwan opportunity came up, and it was a great opportunity to go and re-find my love for the game of basketball and really just figure out my skills, to better myself and really just get re-acclimated with the game, especially being hurt the entire year,” he said. “Going there really revitalized my love of basketball.”
Caroline offered only positive words and feelings about his time on the Asian island.
“I loved my team and my teammates. It was one of the best teams I have been on in terms of the guys and the coaches. They were super respectful. it was just a great environment,” Caroline said. “In terms of Taiwan, they love basketball. Everybody knows who you are on the island. It was really fun.”
The time with Jutai also helped Caroline go through the process of setting and attaining goals on the basketball court again.
“My goals over there were to lead the team to the playoffs and lead the league in scoring. Luckily for myself, I accomplished both of them,” he said.
Caroline at the same time downplayed the fact that the Taiwan league is by far not among the best in the world.
“The competition level obviously was not the same. But I think anywhere you go the biggest challenge is really competing with yourself. What can you get out of yourself wherever you’re at.”
Caroline signed with Trento early in the summer of 2021, already penning a deal on June 30. He was looking forward to competing in the EuroCup against some of the great teams in the competition.
“I live for competition at the highest level. Whenever I see teams like Joventut or Partizan or Lokomotiv on my schedule, it raises me to a whole new level. You get so excited. I can’t sleep the night before because I am so excited. I live for stuff like this. I really love playing on this stage.”
“Whenever I see teams like Joventut or Partizan or Lokomotiv on my schedule, it raises me to a whole new level. You get so excited.”
And Caroline has been excelling as well. In seven EuroCup games, he is averaging 13.9 points and leads the competition in rebounding with 8.3 per game- 3.3 from the offensive glass, plus 1.1 assists and 4.6 fouls drawn for a performance index rating of 17.6.
“I really just try to play as hard as I can and play to the best of my ability and take each and every opportunity head-on,” said Caroline who has collected three double-doubles and ranks second in offensive rebounds, 13th in PIR and 10th in fouls drawn and free throws attempted.
“You can’t get these opportunities back. And the times we are in right now are difficult - trying to navigate everything. Everything is up in the air. Whenever I get a chance to play in a high-level game, I try to make sure and give my all and get the best out of myself.”
All the while remembering how much he loves the game thanks to his time in Taiwan.