DeAndre Jordan: Olympic golds 'more special' than NBA rings

For decades, an NBA player's success has been measured more by the amount of championships they've won, and less by their individual accolades.

Team USA center DeAndre Jordan believes that while a ring is certainly admirable, winning a gold medal should be considered a more impressive feat.

"I think they're above NBA rings," Jordan told ESPN's Marc Stein and Mark Schwarz, when asked his thoughts on chasing a gold in Rio. "I may get in trouble for saying that, but I believe that. I feel like this is more special. You're not just playing teams in the U.S. You're playing teams from all over the world. And this is even more special because there's an NBA champion crowned every year, but this is every four years."

Jordan isn't the only American player to talk up the achievement of winning gold, as the ring-less Carmelo Anthony told ESPN last week that winning three gold medals would make "a great career."

Even if Jordan has a point, Team USA still has a long way to go before they can think about gold medals at Rio 2016, especially given the team's shaky play of late. After dominating play in their opening two contests, the Americans have won their last three by a total of 16 points, relying heavily on clutch baskets to sneak by.

The Americans' next match will take place in the quarterfinals on Wednesday against an Argentinian squad that was blown out in their last contest.