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Eric Bledsoe: Phoenix Suns’ Star Of The Future?

By Nathan Grubel

Apr 4, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) dribbles against the Utah Jazz during the first half at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) dribbles against the Utah Jazz during the first half at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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After a season last year in which the Phoenix Suns almost made the playoffs in the Western Conference, fans and analysts alike had greater expectations coming into this year.

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The Suns made Isaiah Thomas a primary target in the offseason and signed him to a three-year deal via a sign-and-trade with the Sacramento Kings, establishing the team’s three-guard rotation along with Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe.

Things changed quickly, however, as the three guards just didn’t seem to mesh well enough for the rotation to work. Dragic pushed to be traded from Phoenix right at the trade deadline, and was ultimately shipped off to the Miami Heat.

What surprised many was the team’s move of Thomas in a three-team trade that also saw them deal away the Los Angeles Lakers‘ 2015 draft pick to the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Suns got back promising guard Brandon Knight from the Milwaukee Bucks in the trade, but it signaled a completely new Suns backcourt and the end of their playoff push this season, as the team finished 10-18 after the All-Star break.

Now armed with another lottery pick and cap space, what are the Suns supposed to do? Should they try and reload and attract some second-tier free agents or should they try to rebuild again hoping to find a superstar in the draft?

In fact, do the Suns even have a star on the team right now?

When the Suns made their move for Bledsoe, it was thought to be that the team was betting on him to develop into their go-to guy of the future, and he’s done a good job so far in a larger role.

In his two seasons with the Suns, Bledsoe has averaged 17.3 points and 5.9 assists per game on 45.8 percent shooting from the field.

These are not bad numbers at all, as Bledsoe has also given his all on the defensive end, guarding the other team’s best guard or sometimes scorer period night in and night out. Bledsoe’s athleticism and terrific motor allow him to keep up with virtually any opponent on the floor defensively, and offensively it makes him a tough player to guard especially in transition.

Dubbed by some as “mini LeBron James“, Bledsoe has the kind of power and explosiveness to be an effective weapon getting to the rim and finishing at the basket. Since he arrived in Phoenix, Bledsoe has averaged 5.5 free throw attempts per game, hitting them at a 79.1 percent clip.

His aggressiveness getting to the rim is what makes him such an efficient scorer, as he’s really cut down on the number of bad jump shots he takes per game, especially this season.

In terms of finishing at the basket, Bledsoe has hit on a career 62.5 percent of his shots from within three feet of the rim, proving that he knows how to get buckets inside. He has a strong frame for a guard and he knows how to use it in order to finish through contact and convert for his team.

The only real knocks on Bledsoe to his point in his career is that he still turns the ball over at a high rate and he’s not the best shooter on the floor. Bledsoe has averaged 3.4 turnovers per game since he’s been with the Suns and he’s shot 32.5 percent from three-point range for his career.

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    • Yes, these are both problems that need to be worked through if Bledsoe wants to consider himself one of the elite guards in the NBA, but he’s only been a starter in the league for two seasons, not even two full seasons when factoring the amount of time that he’s been injured.

    His shooting stroke isn’t broken, and as time goes on he will make better decisions with the basketball as he gets used to seeing more defensive coverages and builds chemistry with the rest of his teammates. These two issues just take repetition and practice to perfect, and there’s no signs that point toward Bledsoe having these problems for his entire career.

    When factoring his athleticism for his 6-foot-1 size along with his defensive tenacity and willingness to draw contact and get to the rim, Bledsoe has the makings of a star player in this league. Is he there yet? No, not quite. However, his potential is through the roof because of that explosiveness he has with the ball in his hands.

    Athleticism can go a long way in this league, especially if there’s skill there to back it up. Bledsoe has different skills as a basketball player, meaning that he has what it takes to be Phoenix’s future star moving forward.

    Find Bledsoe some complimentary pieces, Phoenix. He’s ready to dominate with the ball in his hands.

    *Statistics courtesy of Basketball-Reference.

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