Gordon brothers ponder futures
Elder Eric considers role in rebuild while younger Eron seeks to secure roster spot
LAS VEGAS — Rockets guard Eric Gordon took his seat in the front row at Thomas & Mack Center, Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. to his left, Alperen Sengun and John Lucas to his right.
He would work out with teammates each morning, as he has through much of the offseason, and exchange hugs and laughs with NBA players whom flocked to the opening games of the Las Vegas Summer League.
At a glance, there was little to indicate there was anything different about Gordon’s situation than through his previous offseasons in the NBA or the previous six summers since he signed with the Rockets.
Gordon, however, found himself conflicted, caught somewhere between the uncertainty about where his career will take him and the joy of seeing his younger brother Eron as a part of the Rockets’ summer league team.
“It’s great,” Gordon said of having his brother on his team, at least to some degree. “He’s been working out with me, and they liked him. I just hope he’ll play.”
In a way, Eron’s place with the summer Rockets, without playing time or much of a chance to be with the team next season, reflects on how the Rockets feel about Eric. The work ethic and professionalism that has kept Eric around runs in the family and led to having Eron on the summer team.
The Rockets have consistently said they are in no rush to trade a player who at 33 years old and with 14 NBA seasons of experience would not seem to fit with the timeline of their rebuild.
It’s not just talk. The Rockets have not shopped Gordon as they did others since their rebuild began. They have resisted many trade offers, holding out for the deal too good to turn down since they value his versatility and influence around the young core of the retooled roster.
The 76ers in particular have sought to add Gordon to the Rockets reunion of general manager Daryl Morey and former teammates James Harden, P.J. Tucker and Danuel House Jr.
The Rockets, however, view Gordon as the same player as he was at his best, when he was the third-best player on a 65-win team. He is coming off the best shooting season of his career, making 47.5 percent of his shots, 41.2 percent of his 3s, and remains an outstanding defensive guard. He has two seasons remaining on his contract, worth $40.5 million, with the second year only partially guaranteed.
The Rockets would seek a return that matches the way they value him.
For Gordon, however, that can be flattering but also uncomfortable, with a sense that his career could head in a very different direction.
“I know how the business works,” Gordon said. “I don’t know what is going to happen. All I can worry about is how I play basketball, and I’ll see what happens. Anything can happen in this business.”
In a way, the same quality that makes Gordon somehow fit with a very different Rockets team than the contender he joined in 2016 allows him to accept the uncertainty.
He remained resolute that he will accept and embrace any change as it comes.
“We got to see; I’m here to play basketball,” Gordon said when asked whether he hoped to remain with the Rockets or move on. “I’ve been in Houston so long. I’ve always wanted to win there. We’ll see what happens.”
At least to some degree, Gordon remains in the Rockets’ immediate plans because their general philosophy heading into the season is that if the young players play well, they should have a chance to win. Gordon can help with that. But the core players’ minutes are not significantly impacted by Gordon’s playing time. Beyond that, the Rockets want players to need to reach Gordon’s level of play, not just compete for playing time with other first- and second-year players.
Gordon would like to see his younger brother find a place among the Rockets’ youth movement, though Eron is more likely to find a spot in the G League or overseas. Eron, a 6-3 guard, played sparingly in five college seasons at Seton Hall and Valparaiso.
He did not play at all in the summer league opener, with the playing time in the Rockets’ backcourt going to Josh Christopher, Daishen Nix, TyTy Washington and Trevor Hudgins, all players who are under contract. But Eron said he was happy to be with his brother’s team and felt no pressure to live up to any expectations that come with his last name.
“It’s actually less pressure,” Eron said. “It’s pretty fun because everyone in my family, from my dad to my brother Evan, to Eric, they’ve all done amazing things. It should be easy to fall right in line and just do what I’m supposed to do.
“It’s definitely pretty special. It’s pretty special for my family. Not too many times in the world two brothers play on a major, professional sports team. So, it’s definitely a special moment for the Gordon family.”
Evan, who played at Liberty, Arizona State and Indiana, is beginning a coaching career at a school outside of Beijing. Eric Gordon Sr. played at Liberty and taught his sons the fundamental shooting form that made his oldest son the 2016-17 sixth man of the year and 3-point contest champion that season.
“I think a lot of people would say I’m very similar to Eric,” Eron said. “I played a little more point guard throughout my career. But I’m very similar to Eric. Similar build. He’s a little bit bigger but not very much. Our strengths are very similar.”
Similar, but on a different level — as Eric’s career demonstrates — has also been clear to Eron in a more customary way for younger brothers everywhere.
“I played him one-on-one. I definitely lost,” Eron said. “He definitely beat me. I’ve never beat him. Ever since I got to high school, he never let me beat him one-on-one.”
The other similarity brought the Rockets’ invitation to join the summer league team, with an attitude that was the primary advise that Eric offered his brother and the Rockets’ value in Eric.
“Just being consistent, being every day,” Eron said. “There’s a reason why my brother’s been in the league for 15 years and had success and made a lot of money in the league and just been good with every coach he’s played with. Overall, he said, ‘Be an every-day guy, don’t get too high, don’t get too low.’”
Eric liked hearing that Eron repeated his guidance. He would like it more if he gets to see him play on his team, even the summer league version of the Rockets, especially if the Rockets remain his team.
“His being on a roster definitely means a lot to me,” Eric said. “As soon as he starts playing, he’ll figure it out.”