PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia 76ers introduced in Eric Gordon in free company with the hope that he would area the ground and make issues occur for this group on the offensive finish. For essentially the most half, he did as he shot 40.9% from deep on 3.5 makes an attempt per recreation.
Sadly for him, he had his season lower brief at simply 30 video games after having to endure proper wrist surgical procedure. He was having a terrific season for the Sixers after a gradual begin earlier than having the whole lot finish abruptly as a result of surgical procedure.
Gordon gave the Sixers what they have been asking for. It was simply an unlucky finish for him, and the Sixers as a complete, as a result of unforgiving harm bug.
“It was robust, as a result of I wished to play as many video games as I can,” mentioned Gordon. “I imply, it was hurting dangerous when it occurred. So I simply needed to—I used to be attempting to grind by way of it for a short time, after which after I get hit with that, it was like, your season has to the top. So, in fact, it was disappointing, and this 12 months it was robust for us, too, so once you mirror on that, it is simply been a robust general 12 months.”
So far as the longer term is worried, Gordon has a $3.4 million participant choice for the 2025-26 season. One has to consider there’s a little bit of unfinished enterprise in Philadelphia when contemplating the expectations of the season and the way issues went. The Sixers have been alleged to be title contenders. As an alternative, it was a 24-58 season because of accidents and different components.
“Oh, no query,” Gordon added. “I imply, who would ever thought we might have the 12 months that we had? In fact, I’d count on each man to get wholesome, hone in, and deal with subsequent season like the way it ought to be. The previous few years right here have been a playoff group, championship caliber group, and that was simply our expectation by way of this 12 months. So it is type of received to get again to that.”
The Sixers did have a group assembly after a foul loss in Miami again in November. That loss dropped the Sixers to 2-11 on the season as there have been early indicators of wrestle for Philadelphia.
“Like, we should not be in that place, I felt like,” Gordon added. “Particularly, that early within the 12 months to have a dialog as a group. We should not be in that place, however like I mentioned, we went by way of quite a bit. Accidents, attempting to determine methods to get chemistry, determining—we even received to the purpose the place it is like we have been attempting to determine methods to win. Like I mentioned this present day, it’s been robust all 12 months. That was an important time in early within the 12 months the place we simply actually couldn’t overcome.”
One can name the 2024-25 season a “wash”. It’s what it’s. Something that might go unsuitable for this group did go unsuitable and the Sixers must now make the corrections wanted to return robust in 2025-26. Will Gordon be part of their nucleus? That continues to be to be seen, however he feels as if there’s some unfinished enterprise for this group to determine.