The Phoenix Suns might have had their fair share of downs already this season – although the latest injury news for this team is not one of them – but there is no doubt this roster is better than it was last season. That is thanks in large part to the addition of Tyus Jones, the point guard the franchise had no right acquiring this summer.
The front office also did an excellent job in drafting a pair of rookies in Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro who have not only helped this team already, but who appear to have the right attitude to play for a contending group. Throw in capable veterans in Mason Plumlee and Monte Morris – plus the nice locker-room presence of Royce O’Neale and Grayson Allen – and everything feels that bit better.
This final piece of the puzzle here was addition by subtraction though.
If there was one veteran who didn’t act like one last season – and who contributed massively to the bad vibes around that version of the team – it was Eric Gordon. The thinking behind bringing in an at times elite 3-point shooter who had spaced the floor for superstars in the past and played for contending teams was sound.
The reality though was totally different, and it was around this time 12 months ago that we started hearing grumblings that Gordon was unhappy with his role in Phoenix. He wanted a bigger slice of the action, despite having to contend with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker for minutes. There was also the small matter of Allen having a career year.
Eric Gordon pic.twitter.com/HQrhQdxTg9
— Brian Rafferty (@_BrianRafferty) November 28, 2024
He ended up averaging a league high 46.1 percent from deep, while Bradley Beal managed to play 53 games. Through all of this, Gordon managed to start 24-of-68 games played. That seemingly wasn’t enough for him, and he made his way to the Philadelphia 76ers this summer, on another minimum deal.
What has that brought him so far? A single start across 16 games played, with his playing time having been nearly halved (27.8 minutes in Phoenix last season to 16.5 so far this campaign). Not only that, but the 76ers are an absolute wreck. They’re a horrible 4-14, and like the Suns last season have struggled to get their three All-Star level players on the court together at the same time.
Which has led to Gordon looking uninterested in what’s going on in Philadelphia, and looking as far away from a championship as ever. It was much the same with the Suns last time out – it was already apparent by December that they’d struggle to go on a deep postseason run – and Gordon’s attitude reflected that.
In no world should Eric Gordon take more shots than McCain
— SixersShowYo (@SixersShowYo) December 1, 2024
There were some decent shooting performances and defensively if you squinted there were moments he helped, but the Suns’ roster is in such a better place right now with him gone. They have both O’Neale and Allen as their main two shooters/defenders off the bench, while Dunn is far more selfless and at times has shot the lights out from deep too.
So that funk that Gordon brought to The Valley has cleared followed him to the 76ers – and while it is unfair to place too much of the blame on their woeful season on his shoulders – his play and demeanour haven’t exactly helped either. He’s brought that “kiss of death” to a franchise with lofty expectations far away from Phoenix, and it is now Philadelphia’s problem.
Leave a Reply