Eric Gordon earned another piece of hardware Monday night, accepting the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award in New York at the league’s inaugural NBA Awards Show.
Although it came two and half months after the end of the regular season, the awards show was a successful, both entertaining and funny during the over two-hour show.
For Gordon, this only adds to the successful season that he had in Houston, his first with the Rockets. Finally hitting free agency and getting out of New Orleans, where he was unhappy with the franchise, Gordon joined James Harden’s Houston Rockets last July, signing a four-year deal for $53 million.
“It definitely means a lot,” Gordon said of the award. “Looking back on my career, I had a lot of injuries the last five years and just to get a healthy season and win an award like this, accepting a new role here in Houston coming off the bench for the first time in my career, and winning this award, definitely means a lot to me.”
The vote was awfully close. Gordon received 46 first-place votes and 358 total points. He beat out Golden State’s Andre Iguodala (326) and Lou Williams (70), his teammate for half of the season.
Gordon’s parents, Eric Sr. and Denise, joined EJ for this special night.
The Rockets posted the third best record in the league (55-27) behind only Golden State (67-15) and San Antonio (61-21).
One of the key moves was made by Mike D’Antoni, who was voted NBA Coach of the Year for 2017-18. Gordon had started his entire career, but coach D’Antoni thought it would be in the best interest of the Rockets to bring him off the bench to provide a jolt, plus scoring with the second group.
“Coach D’Antoni wanted me to win this award when he told me, hey, you make us a better team if you come off the bench,” Gordon shared. “And you know, of course, it’s always tough to accept a role like that. But I enjoy it. It’s definitely a new and different role, and I’m just glad that we had the year that we had and hopefully it works long-term.
“As long as it makes our team better, then I’m all good for it.”
As crazy as it is to believe, Gordon just completed his ninth season in The Association. Three with the Clippers, five with the Pelicans, and one with the Rockets. His per-game averages were the best that he’s posted over the last four seasons: 16.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. He shot 37 percent from range.”
[Gordon soaring in Houston, making push for first All-Star nod]
He shot even better from distance earlier in the season, which resulted in an invite to compete in the NBA All-Star 3-point Shootout — and he won.
“It’s been a special year,” said Gordon, who’s 28. “Winning the three-point was something special and definitely wanted to win something like this as a kid. And winning Sixth Man, I wanted to be a big-time play maker coming into the game. I’m just honored to win an award like this.”
Watch Gordon’s speech after it was announced that he was the winner:
ICYMI: @TheofficialEG10 is your #NBA Sixth Man of the Year!
🏆🎙⤵️ pic.twitter.com/8igODGCbFA
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) June 27, 2017
Still numb from a exciting night at the NBA awards. Go EG10 pic.twitter.com/RJo6gPPlcq
— Eric Gordon (@EricGordonSr) June 27, 2017
And here is Gordon backstage:
Your Sixth Man of the Year! #SplashGordon 🔥 pic.twitter.com/2sAJvocOa3
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) June 27, 2017