Rockets’ Eric Gordon wants to be one of the league’s best 3-point shooters

In a recent interview, Houston Rockets guard Eric Gordon said that his biggest goal for next season is to be one of the best 3-point shooters in the entire NBA.

The best players in the NBA always want to get better, and that is clearly the case for Houston Rockets’ guard Eric Gordon.

After signing a four-year, $76 million max extension with Houston, Gordon has been seen working out with star teammates James Harden and Russell Westbrook. In an interview with The Athletic’s Kelly Iko (subscription required), Gordon made it clear that Houston’s overarching goal is to win a championship, especially since the team’s core is so talented.

Furthermore, Gordon revealed that he has set a few personal goals for himself to help his team win it all next season. He told Kelly Iko that his biggest individual goal for next season is to be one of the best 3-point shooters in the NBA. He wants to remain more consistent as a shooter over the course of the season and he said he wants to shoot at least 40 percent from downtown next season.

Caught up with Eric Gordon on his busy summer, why he signed an extension, finding happiness in Houston, and his goals for next season including being the best shooter in the NBA. https://t.co/G4ianWklDB

— Kelly Iko (@KellyIkoNBA) September 4, 2019

Gordon shot 36 percent from 3-point range last season and raised his 3-point percentage to 40 percent in the playoffs. So he is definitely within range of his goal.

However, Gordon is already one of the best 3-point shooters in the game. The guard made 216 3’s last year, which was good enough for 11th in the NBA. He may not be shooting over 40 percent from distance like Joe Harris or Stephen Curry, but Gordon will punish the defense for leaving him open and he has unlimited range.

What will be interesting to see is if Gordon can increase his 3-point shooting efficiency while possibly increasing his volume. Gordon has averaged 8.8 3’s attempted per game in three consecutive seasons, which is a career-high for him.

The Rockets might push the pace a bit more since they have Russell Westbrook, as he plays best in the open court. Having Westbrook driving down the court at full speed will give Houston a lot of open 3-point looks for the trailing players, and you’d have to assume Gordon will take a lot of those opportunities.

Either way, it’s good to see that Gordon is still looking to improve after playing 11 years in the league. Hopefully he hits that elusive 40 percent mark from downtown.