HOUSTON — Since the franchise shifted into rebuilding mode, Rockets guard Eric Gordon has heard his name placed in some outlandish scenarios over the last two years.
One person on social media proposed Gordon be sent to the Rockets G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Vipers, so the team could develop more of its young talent.
Another individual called a local sports radio show and said he would start a GoFundMe donation drive to help pay for Gordon’s salary, if the Rockets would cut him from the team immediately.
And those are the more friendly remarks made toward the 34-year-old veteran. The others get more bizarre and expletive-laced.
Yet, Gordon does not pay attention to outside noise, even when it comes from local reporters who want to know his feelings on whether he wants to remain in Houston or be traded to a contender.
After a 117-111 loss to Toronto on Friday night, Gordon was asked if he felt like this was his final week with the team. After all, the NBA trade deadline is Thursday, Feb. 9.
“No, I hear stuff all the time,” said Gordon, now in his seventh season with the Rockets. “All I can do is just play basketball.”
The court has been Gordon’s sanctuary this season. It is a place he can get away from all of the outside chatter on his status with the Rockets moving forward. Without the services of the starting backcourt, Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green, over the last three games, Gordon has set season highs in scoring in each game. He has been the focus of Houston’s offense when he is on the court.
“No, I hear stuff all the time,” said Houston Rockets guard Eric Gordon when asked if he thought about this being his last week as a member of the team with the trade deadline coming to an end. #Sarge @TheRocketsWire pic.twitter.com/Gnh5sBJubN
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) February 4, 2023
His 25.6 points, 5 assists and 1.6 steals per game averages, all while hitting 53% of his shots during that three-game stretch, has led to a 2-1 record for the Rockets. He has also averaged 34.1 minutes in the last three games, bringing him to 32.3 over his previous nine games.
Gordon’s durability has been questioned, and he is still usually limited to one game on back-to-backs. That makes his minutes count over the last three games particularly impressive.
“Really good,” Gordon said when asked about his health. “This (health) is definitely where I want to be.”
“I always want to play well,” Gordon said. “I always want to see the team do well and that’s just what it is. I just want to be playing at a high level, and that’s all I ask for: We continue to play hard, like we have been lately, and give ourselves a chance to win games.”
With less than a week left until the Feb. 9 deadline, the uncertainty of where Gordon will be playing looms large around Toyota Center.
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