Andre Iguodala thinks Eric Gordon is limited by modern NBA style

Iguodala, who is headed to the NBA Finals for a sixth straight year, sees Gordon as an example of a player whose skillset is underused.

Given the NBA’s increased emphasis on 3-point shooting and defense, the associated “3&D” label has become very desired in the league’s modern era for role players who aren’t at a superstar level.

One example is Miami Heat swingman Andre Iguodala, who is now headed to the NBA Finals for a sixth straight year after making it in the final five seasons with the Golden State Warriors. Now 36 years old, the veteran defensive ace hit four 3-pointers in Miami’s series-clinching victory in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals versus the Boston Celtics.

In a comprehensive postgame interview with Sam Amick of The Athletic, Iguodala explained how the league’s evolving preferences have made his role more clearly defined as he enters the twilight of his career.

“I can play basketball until I’m 40 — easy,” Iguodala told Amick. “Especially with the way they’ve dumbed down the game. I’m 36 now, and the way they’ve dumbed down the game means I see my value more than ever, although my value isn’t as valuable as it was before.”

Earlier in his career, Iguodala averaged as many as 19.9 points per game. In that 2007-08 season, he shot 15.6 field-goal attempts on average, and less than a quarter of them (23.7%) were 3-pointers, at 3.7 per game. By contrast, in the 2019-20 season, Iguodala averaged 4.2 shots per game — and more than half (2.2) were from 3-point range.

Iguodala then explained how that philosophy could be limiting the value of certain role players, such as Houston Rockets guard Eric Gordon.

Well as you see in the bubble, there’s more fouls called than ever. They want high scores. I think more guys are put in a box. It’s catch and shoot 3s, or catch-and-drive real hard to the basket and dunk finish. The little nuances of the game, gamesmanship, it’s not as appreciated or it’s not as sought after or valued as much.

I know a lot of guys in the league, like a Jrue Holiday (from New Orleans) or an Eric Gordon (from Houston), they have so much to their game, but the way the game is played now, they’ve taken that out of their games because they said, ‘All right, we want you to shoot 3s. We want you to defend, put your head down and drive.’ And those are two prime examples, where guys are like, ‘Man, this guy was a monster to deal with but the way the game has changed you’re limiting a lot of guys. That’s just the evolution of the game and where it’s going. I think it’ll come back eventually, but like I said, seeing those things I know my value because of my IQ or even at the next level, if I can get to a front office or head a team.

Now 31 years old, Gordon averaged 14.4 points per game with the Rockets in his recently completed 2019-20 season. Of Gordon’s 12.9 field-goal attempts per game, nearly two-thirds (8.4) were 3-pointers.

By contrast, when the 6-foot-3 guard set a career-high at 22.3 points per game during the 2010-11 season, only 5.2 of his average 16.9 shot attempts per game (30.8%) came from 3-point range.

Though Iguodala’s Warriors advanced each time, Gordon likely earned some additional respect in the 2018 and 2019 playoffs. In a six-game series against the Warriors in 2019, Gordon averaged 20.0 points per game on 45.2% shooting, including 34.5% on 3-pointers. In the seven-game series of 2018, Gordon scored 19.0 points per game on 42.3% shooting (35.0% on 3-pointers). During both years, he provided valuable defense, as well, against the likes of Klay Thompson and Steph Curry.

With a head coaching change looming in Houston, it remains to be seen whether there will be a change in the team’s philosophy. But if there is, it seems clear that Iguodala believes Gordon has more to offer.

Gordon is signed with the Rockets through at least the 2022-23 season. He’ll turn 32 years old on Christmas Day later this year.

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