The young and rebuilding Houston Rockets finished with the NBA’s worst record in each of the past two seasons, and they enter 2023 with eight losses over their past nine games and tied for the fewest wins (10) of any team in the league during the 2022-23 campaign.
That’s a tough spot to be in for one of the team’s lone veterans, Eric Gordon, who turned 34 years old a week ago and could certainly offer value to a team looking to compete in the 2023 playoffs.
While Gordon is clearly a candidate to be traded by this season’s Feb. 9 trade deadline, he enters 2023 still on Houston’s roster. And after Saturday’s lifeless New Year’s Eve loss to the visiting New York Knicks, some frustrations seemed to boil over postgame.
“There’s no improvement,” Gordon said when asked if the team had improved on its weaknesses since the season started last October.
“Same old thing all year,” Gordon elaborated. We have a small margin for error. … It’s a lot of things. It’s mindset. You got to play for one another. Do what’s right by your teammates. If you do that, it’d be more fun. You give yourself a better chance to win.”
To say the least, that blunt assessment raised eyebrows from many observers around the league. Here’s a look at some of the responses.
Sometimes, just plain old honesty is refreshing. https://t.co/mhHwGkbaUB
— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) January 1, 2023
John Wall checking in. https://t.co/VvjfiTACbs pic.twitter.com/gWOPUPgsGC
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) January 1, 2023
LMBOOOOOOOOOOOO get that man to Phoenix! https://t.co/Hg8ZNCh0YR
— Nekias (Nuh-KY-us) Duncan (@NekiasNBA) January 1, 2023
This is EG’s best contribution all season I’m ngl
Calling it as he sees it
Have to respect it https://t.co/iQJH9OSqHG
— Paulo Alves (@PauloAlvesNBA) January 1, 2023
Why are people mad about EG saying this? I don’t get it. https://t.co/gUKDypvgwg
— Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) January 1, 2023
I knew something was off watching him play in Dallas the other day. That’s when I posted that tweet somebody free him. You could tell the joy was gone while he was playing, just going through the motion. https://t.co/oRgKVPm9VY
— Landon Thomas (@sixfivelando) January 1, 2023
New Year's resolution: Trade Eric Gordon to a title contender https://t.co/WEJz3GJ1Y9
— 𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙞𝙣’ 𝙉𝘽𝘼 (@_Talkin_NBA) January 1, 2023
This is what you have to deal with when you go full “tank” mode. Rockets have all this perceived “talent”. And yet, they still have a lonnnnng way to go..
Mainly, you have to get lucky in some ways when you draft high. Rockets still don’t have a Franchise Star. It takes time. https://t.co/ZYSMnwA7iq
— JD SportsTalk (@JDSportsTalkNY) January 1, 2023
Two months away from being a Sixer 📈 https://t.co/IcHzmurdSr
— Sixerdaily 🏀 (@sixerdaily) January 1, 2023
I mean statistically players are improving individually. The team however, is not.
I think one can figure out the common denominator here. https://t.co/Y3peVQZjnQ
— Michael (Rockets Optimist) (@DrewsNBA) January 1, 2023
He’s not lying https://t.co/0yAUlS2Aw6
— Stefan Bondy (@SBondyNYDN) January 1, 2023
A check in on our rebuilding peers… eek. That 95 Finals rematch might be slightly delayed… https://t.co/sQaut25KVw
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) January 1, 2023
Great quote. Also ensures he gets traded to a contender by the deadline. https://t.co/QUd3sJkJQF
— Greg Hrinya (@GHrinyaNBA) January 1, 2023
“No improvement”
None dawg?
Damn 😭😭😭 https://t.co/ATEtWNqEDO
— V̷a̷t̷o̷r̷ (@Vator_H_Town) January 1, 2023
Someone save this man, please https://t.co/eVD9MZpeDf
— Joe Mullinax (@JoeMullinax) January 1, 2023
Me checking in on my New Year's resolutions in a couple weeks. https://t.co/DokSEQurv1
— Mike Zakarian (@MikeZakarian) January 1, 2023
He’s so real. He’s so real https://t.co/qlF6KMBo4z
— Kylie Cheung (@kylietcheung) January 1, 2023
I understand this young man's frustration. Truthfully he should've been traded by now.
This is the last guaranteed year on his contract though https://t.co/vsHiNT3UaW
— Anthony Duckett (@a_duckett) January 1, 2023
@ChrisVernonShow you need to show this clip to @KevinOConnorNBA every time he implores teams start tanking. Throwing away seasons of development + establishing a losing culture is bad for everyone!
“Blow it up” and deal with terrible basketball, bad attitudes, and loss of fans. https://t.co/W2GcHgR4Hg
— Z-Bo (@ZakBagu) January 1, 2023
Thank you Eric for keeping it 💯 https://t.co/7AtfpoK2yI
— Abel (@AbelGe87) January 1, 2023
Incredible quote. Wish all pro athletes were this honest. https://t.co/hGNuPmsfNS
— Dustin (@dustinjkent) January 1, 2023
Get him out of there, playoff teams need him https://t.co/37Ig0nLAay
— Demetrius (@LLNYCMook) January 1, 2023
