3 Suns who are underperforming, 4 exceeding expectations at the All-Star break
By Will Eudy
Underperforming: Eric Gordon
One of the most well-recognized veterans around the NBA, the Suns were thrilled to add Eric Gordon as a free agent addition in the offseason last July. A highly experienced player, Gordon has been to the playoffs six times with three different teams and brings value as a three-and-D player wherever he goes.
Phoenix was especially ecstatic to pry him away from a fellow Western Conference contender. Last season, Eric was a mainstay in the LA Clippers' rotation, shooting 42% from three for them in the regular season before putting up 10.2 points per game in their five-game series against the Suns last April.
But since he landed in Phoenix, Gordon has been something of a disappointment. He has not shot the ball quite as well as he did last season in Los Angeles, but the truly troubling development has been his attitude toward his struggles. In December, Eric publicly stated that he was not happy with how he was being used and would like a greater role in the offense.
This is a bold and rather surprising statement for a role player on a team filled with offensive engines like Devin Booker and Kevin Durant. At 35 years old, it is clear Gordon is not getting any better with age. It remains to be seen what his role will look like on this team going forward.