Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan is spot-on as a TV pitch man

DeAndre Jordan looks momentarily bewildered when the reporter holding a microphone near the window of his car asks if Santa will start against the Lakers.

Jordan, seated in the driver’s seat, laughs before answering in a way only he can.

“I don’t think he’ll start,” Jordan says in the ESPN commercial promoting the Clippers’ game against Kobe Bryant and the Lakers on Christmas at Staples Center. “I think he may see some playing time, though. If we’re up 20 with a minute left and Kobe’s out of the game and Blake’s in foul trouble and C.P.’s tired and Doc has lost his mind then he’ll play.”

If it seems like you’re seeing more of Jordan on television these days, it’s probably because you are. He will also be featured in new State Farm Insurance ads alongside Chris Paul debuting on Christmas.

The fun-loving Jordan has a wry sense of humor and good comedic timing, making him an ideal pitchman. He said Friday he enjoyed being involved in more commercials, something star teammates Paul and Blake Griffin have been doing for years.

“Yeah, because I’m good at it,” he said, laughing. “Nah, it’s fun. I like it. It’s cool. It’s something I enjoy.”

The Clippers tried to directly increase branding opportunities for Jordan as part of their efforts to re-sign him as a free agent this summer, a no-no in the eyes of the NBA. The league fined the Clippers $250,000 after representatives from the franchise’s business side arranged for a endorsement deal with Lexus that would have paid Jordan about $200,000 a year.

The NBA concluded after its investigation that the proposal had no impact on Jordan’s decision to re-sign with the team for four years and $87.6 million. Based on recent opportunities, it seems he’s doing just fine on his own.

He’s got spirit

One thing has been constant with Lance Stephenson, whether he starts games, barely plays or doesn’t play at all: He can be found cheering whenever his teammates do something good.

“He’s been nothing but positive energy,” Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said.

It’s Stephenson’s tendency to cheer for himself that’s both amused and infuriated Rivers. He danced across the court Wednesday against the Milwaukee Bucks after making a no-look bounce pass to Paul Pierce that resulted in a layup.

“He’s kooky and quirky,” Rivers said. “Like the play the other night, he makes a play and we were laughing at the film [because] it looked like he was having a little parade during the game, I mean he was cheering himself. Of course his guy scored on the other end so now I’m mad at him.

“But he’s really been very positive, he’s been a very positive force for our basketball team.”

Rivers made numerous calls to assess Stephenson’s character before the Clippers acquired him in a trade with the Charlotte Hornets last summer. Rivers said Hornets representatives praised Stephenson for remaining upbeat even after the team benched him last season.

“They said he was the guy, if you watch the games, he was standing during the huddles, he was the guy cheering on the floor,” Rivers said. “They all said that surprised them about him, and it’s been the same here.”

CLIPPERS NEXT UP

at Houston

When: 5 p.m. PST, Saturday.

Where: Toyota Center.

On the air: TV: Prime; Radio: 980, 1330.

Records: Rockets 13-14, Clippers 16-11.

Record vs. Rockets (2014-15): 2-2.

Update: The Clippers return to the scene of their demise last season, a Game 7 defeat in the Western Conference semifinals that came three days after their 19-point collapse in Game 6. The Rockets have rebounded a bit since firing Coach Kevin McHale, going 9-7 under interim Coach J.B. Bickerstaff. Shooting guard James Harden is averaging a career-high 28.9 points per game but is shooting 41.2%, his lowest percentage since his rookie season, and a career-worst 33.3% from three-point range.

ben.bolch@latimes.com

Twitter: @latbbolch

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