Eric Gordon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Eric Gordon

Gordon with the Houston Rockets in 2019
No. 23 – Philadelphia 76ers
Shooting guard / small forward
Personal information
Born	(1988-12-25) December 25, 1988 (age 36) Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Nationality	American / Bahamian
High school	North Central (Indianapolis, Indiana)
Listed height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight	215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
College	Indiana (2007–2008)
NBA Draft	2008 / Round: 1 / Pick: 7th overall
Selected by the Los Angeles Clippers
Pro career	2008–present
League	NBA
Career history
2008–2011	Los Angeles Clippers
2011–2016	New Orleans Hornets / Pelicans
2016–2023	Houston Rockets
2023	Los Angeles Clippers
2023–2024	Phoenix Suns
2024–present	Philadelphia 76ers
Career highlights and awards
NBA Sixth Man of the Year (2017) NBA Three-Point Contest champion (2017) NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2009) Third-team All-America – AP (2008) First-team All-Big Ten (2008) Big Ten Freshman of the Year (2008) McDonald's All-American (2007) First-team Parade All-American (2007) Fourth-team Parade All-American (2006) Indiana Mr. Basketball (2007)
Medals Men's basketball Representing  United States FIBA World Championship Gold 2010 Turkey National team

Eric Ambrose Gordon Jr. (born December 25, 1988) is a professional basketball player. He plays for the Philadelphia 76ers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Eric is from both America and The Bahamas.

When he was in high school, Eric was named Indiana Mr. Basketball. This award goes to the best high school player in Indiana. He played for North Central High School. Eric was very talented, and many colleges wanted him to play for them. His decision was a big deal in the news.

Eric played college basketball for one year at Indiana University. He was one of the best college players in the country. He led the Big Ten conference in scoring. He averaged 21.5 points per game. After college, Eric entered the 2008 NBA draft. The Los Angeles Clippers picked him seventh overall.

Early Life and High School Basketball

Eric Gordon was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. He started playing sports at age four. He first played soccer, then quickly switched to basketball. By age seven, he was playing competitive basketball.

High School Achievements

Gordon in 2007 as a high school basketball player

Eric went to North Central High School. He played on the varsity basketball team all four years. In 2007, his team played a game against Loyola Academy. This game was shown on ESPN. Eric scored a record 43 points that night. He later scored 50 points twice in that same season.

He led his high school team to the Indiana 4A state championship game in his senior year. Eric averaged 29 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. He was named Indiana's "Mr. Basketball" in 2007. He was also chosen as a McDonald's All-American. This means he was one of the best high school players in the whole country.

During the summer, Eric played in many special basketball tournaments. He played with other future NBA stars. These included Mike Conley Jr., Derrick Rose, and Greg Oden.

College Recruitment Story

When Eric was a sophomore in high school, he first said he would play for the University of Illinois. But later, the coach at Indiana University changed. Eric then became interested in playing for Indiana.

After some time, Eric decided to change his mind. He officially chose to play for Indiana University. This decision caused a lot of talk. Some people thought it was unfair to Illinois. Eric received strong reactions from Illinois fans. When he played against Illinois in college, fans booed him loudly.

College Basketball Career

Eric played for the Indiana Hoosiers for one year. He was a shooting guard. During his time at Indiana, he earned many awards. He was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year. He also made the Third Team All-American.

Eric set a record for freshmen at Indiana and in the Big Ten. He scored 669 points in his first year. He averaged 20.9 points per game. He played the second half of his season with an injured wrist.

On April 4, 2008, Eric announced he would leave college. He decided to enter the 2008 NBA draft.

Professional Basketball Career

Los Angeles Clippers (2008–2011)

The Los Angeles Clippers drafted Eric Gordon as the seventh pick in the 2008 NBA draft. In his first NBA Summer League game, he scored 23 points. He showed his scoring skills early on.

On January 23, 2009, Eric set a Clippers team record. He scored 41 points in a game as a rookie. This record was later broken by Blake Griffin. Because of his great play, he was named the NBA Western Conference Rookie of the Month for January. He was also chosen for the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

Eric also took part in the 2010 NBA All-Star Weekend. He competed in the first-ever Sprite All-Star Slam Dunk-In. He was also selected to play in the Rookie Challenge game.

Eric finished his second season averaging 16.9 points per game. He was one of 27 players chosen for the 2010–12 USA Men's National Team Program. In his third season, Eric was averaging 24.1 points per game before he got injured. He sprained his wrist and missed many games. Despite injuries, he finished the season averaging 22.3 points per game.

New Orleans Hornets / Pelicans (2011–2016)

On December 14, 2011, Eric was traded to the New Orleans Hornets. This trade was part of a big deal that sent Chris Paul to the Clippers. In his first game with the Hornets, Eric scored 20 points. He also made the game-winning shot with 4.2 seconds left.

Eric had a knee injury that bothered him. He had surgery on his knee in February 2012. He only played in 9 games that season. In July 2012, Eric signed a big contract offer with the Phoenix Suns. But the Hornets matched the offer, so he stayed in New Orleans.

He continued to have knee problems. Doctors put him on strict limits to protect his knee. He could not play in back-to-back games or play more than 30 minutes. In April 2013, the New Orleans Hornets changed their name to the New Orleans Pelicans.

Eric continued to play well for the Pelicans. On November 29, 2013, he scored 26 points and had 7 assists. In March 2014, he had another knee injury. He needed surgery on his left knee, which ended his season.

In the 2014–15 season, Eric injured his left shoulder. He missed 21 games. When he returned, he had his best long-range shooting year. He made 44.8% of his three-point shots. This was the second-best percentage in the league. Eric helped the Pelicans make the playoffs. In his first playoff game, he scored 16 points.

In January 2016, Eric broke a bone in his shooting hand. He had surgery and missed many games. He returned briefly but then re-injured his finger in March. This ended his season.

Houston Rockets (2016–2023)

Gordon with Houston in 2016

On July 9, 2016, Eric signed a four-year contract with the Houston Rockets. He quickly made an impact. On December 7, he made a career-high eight three-pointers. He scored 26 points coming off the bench. On December 16, he scored 29 points. The Rockets set an NBA record that game by making 24 three-pointers.

On February 18, 2017, Eric won the NBA Three-Point Contest during the NBA All-Star Weekend. He beat Kyrie Irving in the final round. Eric finished the season with 180 three-pointers made while coming off the bench. This set a new NBA record. He was named the NBA Sixth Man of the Year. This award goes to the best player who usually comes off the bench.

In October 2017, Eric made a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer against the Philadelphia 76ers. In March 2018, he tied his career high with eight three-pointers. The Rockets made it to the Western Conference Finals that year. Eric scored 24 points in Game 5 to help the Rockets take a 3–2 lead. However, they lost the series in seven games.

In November 2018, Eric scored a season-high 36 points. In the 2019 playoffs, he scored a playoff career-high 30 points. He also made seven three-pointers in a game against the Golden State Warriors.

In September 2019, Eric signed a contract extension with the Rockets. On January 27, 2020, Eric scored a career-high 50 points against the Utah Jazz. He was the first player other than James Harden to score 50 points for the Rockets in 24 years. The Rockets made the playoffs that year.

The 2020–21 season was a big change for the Rockets. Many star players were traded. Eric played in only 27 games due to a groin injury. The Rockets missed the playoffs for the first time in many years. He also missed the end of the 2021–22 season with another groin injury.

Return to the Clippers (2023)

On February 9, 2023, Eric was traded back to the Los Angeles Clippers. He played 22 games for them. On June 28, 2023, the Clippers decided to let him go.

Phoenix Suns (2023–2024)

On July 6, 2023, Eric signed with the Phoenix Suns. He played 68 games for the Suns in the 2023-24 season. On June 27, 2024, he chose to become a free agent.

Philadelphia 76ers (2024–present)

On July 10, 2024, Eric signed with the Philadelphia 76ers. He played in 39 games for the 76ers during the 2024-25 season. On February 26, 2025, Eric had surgery on his right wrist. This injury ended his season. On June 29, 2025, he became a free agent again. He then re-signed with the 76ers on July 1, 2025.

Career Statistics

NBA Regular Season

NBA Playoffs

College Statistics

National Team Career

Playing for the USA

Eric played for Team USA in the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey. He helped the United States win the gold medal. They had a perfect record of 9 wins and 0 losses. Eric averaged 8.6 points per game in the tournament.

Playing for The Bahamas

On August 7, 2023, Eric was allowed to switch and play for The Bahamas. He played in the 2024 Olympics Pre-Qualifying Tournament. In the championship game, Eric led his team with 27 points. This helped The Bahamas win the event. They earned a spot in the 2024 FIBA Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.

Personal Life

Eric's mother, Denise, is from Nassau, The Bahamas. His father, Eric Sr., played basketball at Liberty University.

Eric has two younger brothers, Evan and Eron. Both of his brothers also played college basketball. Evan played for Liberty, Arizona State, and Indiana. Eron played for Seton Hall and Valparaiso University.

In November 2020, Eric opened a pizza restaurant. It is called "Eric Gordon's Greek Pizzeria" in Bloomington, Indiana.

Awards and Achievements

NBA Awards

• NBA Sixth Man of the Year (2017)
• NBA Three-Point Contest champion (2017)
• NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2009)
• NBA Western Conference Rookie of the Month (January 2009)

Other Achievements

• Gold Medalist at the 2010 FIBA World Championship
• Big Ten Freshman of the Year (2008)
• First Team All-Big Ten (2008)
• Third Team All-American (2008)
• Gatorade National Male Athlete of the Year (2007)
• McDonald's All-American (2007)
• First-team Parade All-American (2007)
• Jordan Brand All-American (2007)
• Indiana Mr. Basketball (2007)

See also

In Spanish: Eric Gordon para niños