Eric Gordon is widely believed to be among the most overpaid players in the league, and one of the reasons that the New Orleans Pelicans haven’t been able to add another big piece to complement their core.
Gordon signed a four-year, $58 million offer sheet with the Phoenix Suns in the 2012 offseason, but the Pelicans chose to match it. He has not lived up to expectations, with production dropping each season since.
However, after underwhelming production at the start of the season, Gordon has been stepping up since returning from injury on January 5.
Gordon was averaging 9.5 points per game, 2.3 rebounds per game, and 2.0 assists per game before he was injured on November 22. Since returning from injury he’s been averaging 14.8 points per game, 3.4 rebounds per game, and 4.8 assists per game, as of January 22.
Bolstering the argument that he’s doing better and better, Gordon had his second career double-double on Wednesday night in a 96-80 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, finishing with 17 points and 10 assists. It’s the first time he’s posted a double-double while playing for New Orleans.
Gordon has been getting significantly more minutes lately due to Jrue Holiday’s injury, seeing an average of 34.9 minutes a game compared to 31 minutes in November.
Holiday’s absence also means Gordon sees the ball a bit more. He’s taking just over 12 shots a game, converting 5.4 for 44 percent. That’s up from 9 attempts per game in November, where he was converting less than four for a 40 percent shooting percentage.
Gordon is also taking and making more three-pointers--taking almost five per game, and making about two, for a nice 38 percent. He was at 33 percent before his injury.
Coach Monty Williams and teammates have praised Gordon since his return, especially after the win over the Lakers.
“We just love Eric’s floor games, having 10 assists was huge for us,” Williams told reporters, per NBA.com. “He’s had a chance to get his legs fresh, look at how we’re playing and see some things where he can step up and be a bit of a floor general for us. He played point guard at Indiana when he was in college so we knew he was capable.”
