Predicting The Next Wave Of NBA All-Stars
By Bryce Olin
Apr 12, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) brings the ball up court during the first quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Eric Bledsoe
If Bledsoe could stay on the court for a whole season, there’s no doubt in my mind he’s an All-Star caliber player.
| Season | G | MP | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P% | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-11 | 81 | 22.7 | 2.5 | 6.0 | .424 | .276 | .744 | 2.8 | 3.6 | 1.1 | 6.7 |
| 2011-12 | 40 | 11.6 | 1.2 | 3.2 | .389 | .200 | .636 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 3.3 |
| 2012-13 | 76 | 20.4 | 3.3 | 7.5 | .445 | .397 | .791 | 3.0 | 3.1 | 1.4 | 8.5 |
| 2013-14 | 43 | 32.9 | 6.2 | 12.9 | .477 | .357 | .772 | 4.7 | 5.5 | 1.6 | 17.7 |
| Career | 240 | 22.0 | 3.2 | 7.2 | .445 | .327 | .759 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 1.3 | 8.7 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 9/3/2014.
In four seasons, injuries have caused him to miss 89 games. While these injury problems are starting to feel like a trend, I’m willing to bet Bledsoe will eventually shake the injuries and prove what he can actually be — an elite point guard.
Another thing stacked against Bledsoe is the point guard depth in the NBA right now. It’s by far the deepest position in the entire league. In order to stand out, Bledsoe has to be really special. He has been really special, though; he’s just been hurt.
Last season, Bledsoe posted the eighth highest PER among points guards, posting a 19.62 PER. In the West, Bledsoe was behind only Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Steph Curry, and Mike Conley.
In the next few years, I anticipate Paul and Conley to be on the decline, which would put Bledsoe right in the thick of the point guard race in the West. Will Bledsoe ever be the best point guard in the league? Only time will tell, but he’s close to the top. As young as he is (he’s only 24 years old), he’s still a few years away from his prime. Bledsoe could still be really, really, really good.