Jeff Wallace Nordgaard (born February 23, 1973) is an American-born naturalized Polish former professional basketball player who played briefly in the National Basketball Association (NBA), as well several top-level European leagues, during his 13-year career. He played college basketball for the Green Bay Phoenix.
Nordgaard's father, John Nordgaard, was a biology teacher and guidance counselor at Dawson-Boyd High School and at one time its head basketball coach. When playing basketball at Dawson-Boyd High School in 1990, as a junior, Jeff scored 41 points in an 86âÂÂ78 win over Canby, to set a new team record. In 1991, he became the first player in Minnesota state history to achieve a quadruple double, recording 37 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists, and 12 blocks.
He played college basketball for the Green Bay Phoenix at the University of WisconsinâÂÂGreen Bay. He finished his college hoops career in March 1996 and in May was named "Basketball Man of the Year" in Wisconsin. Nordgaard was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of the 1996 NBA draft. He began his professional career in Europe, spending the 1996âÂÂ97 season with two clubs, Dijon (France) and Patronato Bilbao (Spain 2nd). The following season he briefly played for the Bucks before finishing the season with the CBA's Fort Wayne Fury.
Nordgaard then returned to Europe, first going to Viola Reggio Calabria in Italy for the 1998âÂÂ99 season, where he was a teammate of future NBA star Manu Ginóbili. The next season he returned to France with Besançon BCD. Nordgaard briefly returned to America in 2000 with the Indiana Legends in the ABA before signing a contract that brought him back to France with Chalon.
In 2001 Nordgaard went to Poland, joining Anwil Wà Âocà Âawek. He then moved to Polonia Warsaw in 2003. Nordgaard was especially well-traveled in the 2004âÂÂ05 season, first returning to Italy to play for Roseto, transferring to Greek power Olympiacos, and ending the season back at Polonia. The following year he signed with another Polish club, Prokom Trefl Sopot, and stayed there through the 2006âÂÂ07 season. Nordgaard moved to AZS Koszalin for the 2007âÂÂ08 season and decided to stay for the 2008âÂÂ09 season.
During his time in Poland, Nordgaard gained Polish citizenship, and played for the Polish national team. On February 15, 2003, Nordgaard and his wife Alexis had a son, Dawson John. In 2005, another son, Langdon, was born. His sister Chari also played basketball at University of WisconsinâÂÂGreen Bay. Nordgaard's nephew Kon Knueppel currently plays for the Charlotte Hornets.
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