Rockets: Eric Gordon finishes runner-up in Sixth Man of the Year

Unfortunately, the best player off the bench for the Rockets did not repeat as Sixth Man of the Year award winner.

Eric Gordon had a great season for the Rockets this season. He came off the bench and provided a ton of value for the team, becoming a near-All-Star in the process.

However, he did not end up winning the Sixth Man of the Year award tonight at the NBA Awards Show on TNT. He finished runner-up with Fred Van Vleet behind former Rocket Lou Williams, who was very deserving of the award.

Sweet Lou averaged over 20 points a game and was one of the best, if not the best, players on the LA Clippers. He did all of this while coming off the bench for most of his games.

Eric Gordon’s impact

Eric Gordon had a great impact on the Rockets this year. He averaged 18 points a night and that number rose whenever he had to start.

Chris Paul and James Harden both went out with injuries this season for some time and Gordon was able to hop into the starting lineup and contribute. He kept the team afloat until the injury bug went away.

While his shot wasn’t 100% the same as last season, he did get better after the All-Star Break. He was someone you couldn’t leave wide open or he would make you pay.

Gordon also participated in the 3-point Contest at All-Star Weekend this season. While he didn’t do very well, unlike last season when he won it, he still repped the Rockets along the way.

What’s next for EG?

Eric Gordon has been involved in many trade scenarios this offseason. If the Rockets want to pull in a big star like LeBron or George, his contract would likely have to go.

Next: Keeping up with each of the players traded for Chris Paul

If the Rockets decide to stick with the same team, though, EG will have that same role as this season. He will be a huge bench presence, one of the top players in that regard.