Gordon is second in the NBA in 3-point field goals made.
Eric Gordon spent the last five seasons in New Orleans playing for the Pelicans. The Indy native and 2007 Indiana Mr. Basketball will be spending the 2017 All-Star Break back in New Orleans — selected as a participant in the 3-point shootout, a league source told VigilantSports.com.
Gordon, in his first year with the Houston Rockets (34-14), has led the league in made 3-pointers for much of the season. Through 46 games, he is in second behind Golden State Warriors sharpshooter Stephen Curry with 166 makes on 423 attempts (39.2 percent). Curry, in one less game, is 173-for-431 (40.1).
Curry won the 3-point shootout in 2015, but he was topped by his teammate, Klay Thompson, in Toronto as he tried to defend his crown.
All-Star Saturday night festivities will be held on Saturday, Feb. 18. The skill challenge gets things started at 8:00 pm ET, with the 3-point shootout and slam dunk contest to follow.
Pacers guard Glenn Robinson III, a Gary, Indiana product, will compete in the dunk contest, league sources confirmed to VigilantSports.com.
[Eric Gordon soaring in Houston, making push for first All-Star nod]
The Rockets are shooting — and making — way more 3-point field goals than any other team.
Through 48 games, Houston has attempted 1,914 and hit 704 (36.8 percent). Cleveland is second in made 3s, with 552 (on 1,436 tries). Because of that, Gordon’s teammates James Harden (147) is third in made 3s, Trevor Ariza (127) is sixth, and Ryan Anderson is ninth (122). That’s three Rockets players in the top ten.
Playing in the roll of sixth man this season with the Rockets, Gordon is averaging 17.4 points, 2.8 assists, and 2.7 rebounds per game. He signed with Houston in free agency for $53 million over four years.