Over the last few months, Pendergraph, the Blazers’ 6-9, 240-pound rookie power forward has transformed into an instant fan favorite thanks to his physical play on the court and genuine kid-like personality off it. But the 22-year-old will be the first to tell you he wouldn’t be where he is today without his mother, LaDona Orcutt, or “the argument.”

“Right now she is like my best friend. We’ll talk about every day or I’ll text her. I can talk to her about everything,” Pendergraph said softly, before remembering back to his childhood in Etiwanda, Calif., about 45 minutes east of downtown Los Angeles.

“But it wasn’t always like that. It was a little rough at first.”

Jeff didn’t know his dad growing up. He was raised in a single-parent home and watched after his younger sister and brother. While LaDona worked two jobs from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. for nearly a year to provide for her family, Jeff was the man of the house at seven years old.

“With any single-parent family - especially when they are 3, 5 and 7 years old, and I was gone most of the time – it was probably hard on them,” admitted Orcutt, who today serves as a human resources manager for Sports Chalet, a sporting goods company in Southern California.

“He took on a lot of responsibility at a very young age. By the time he was in third or fourth grade, he was walking his sister (Samantha) and brother (Timothy) home from school and getting them into the house, getting them a snack and started on their homework. He grew up real fast. But he had an outlet in basketball.”

Pendergraph found comfort and a dream on the court.

“I can still picture in my mind, this 7-year-old kid when he first started playing basketball telling me he was going to play in the NBA. I was like, ‘OK. Whatever you want’,” Orcutt laughed.

By high school, Pendergraph helped turn Etiwanda High School into a national powerhouse. In his final two seasons, the Eagles went a combined 62-5, earning the power forward a scholarship to Arizona State University where he went on to graduate with a degree in economics. But as an 18-year-old high school senior, life at home eventually reached a boiling point between Jeff and his mom.

“She was very protective and I didn’t get to do much,” Pendergraph said, recalling his 11 o’clock curfew. “After the games I wanted to go out with my boys but I had to go home. It was lame.”

That’s when “the argument” happened.

“In all of our years,” LaDona began, “we’ve only had one argument where we raised our voices.

“He figured by that time he could do what he wanted. The whole thing was, ‘My house; my rules.’ Getting to stay out later had to be earned. Gradually he got more freedom.”

Looking back, Jeff can’t tell the story without smiling. He knows that dispute five years ago changed him – and his relationship with his mom – from there forward.

“We were yelling at each other, and by the end of the night we were both crying and hugging each other,” said Pendergraph. “Ever since then we’ve been super cool and she’s respected me. I call her ‘The Boss’.”

Pendergraph was 18 when he met his dad, James, for the first time.  Jeff tried to build a bridge, but their communication waned between James’ ongoing excuses and Jeff’s mounting disappointment in their relationship. Even though he maintains a moderate connection with James today, Jeff doesn’t feel like he’s missed out on not having a father around.

“In his mind I guess, Jeff thought he had his mom and that’s all he needed. He’ll be the first to tell you his dad didn’t do anything for him. ‘My mom did it all,’” LaDona said proudly.

“I was very blessed with my children. They are all very well mannered and respectful. He’s (Jeff) probably my most mild child. He probably saved all that up and is taking it out on everybody he goes up against now,” LaDona laughed.

During Pendergraph’s senior year at Arizona State, Orcutt made the five-hour drive to Tempe for all his home games, missing only one contest. Now that her baby boy is living his dream in the league, LaDona follows the Blazers’ games on NBA League Pass, and is planning her first trip to Portland in early February when the Blazers face the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City.

Knowing the way Pendergraph battled back from offseason hip surgery each game this season holds special meaning.

“I’m just going out there and having fun. I don’t think there is any pressure on me, because there is nothing to be expected,” confessed Pendergraph, who underwent surgery to repair an impingement in his left hip.

“At the beginning of the season, I didn’t know if I was going to play at all. I thought I was going to miss the whole season. To go from there to here is surreal.”

Since being cleared to play after missing 27 games to start the season – and logging key minutes in the injury absence of centers Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla – Pendergraph has averaged 4.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in 13 games played this season, including collecting 14 rebounds against the Los Angeles Clippers in late December. Better news yet, Pendergraph recently met a clause in his rookie contract guaranteeing him a second-year in Portland.

That’s enough to make any mother proud.

[Photo by Alex McDougall]