Eric ‘EJ’ Gordon has opted to decline his $3.4 million player option with the Phoenix Suns and has signed with the Philadelphia 76ers for the 2024-25 season, according to a report from The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Gordon’s contract will be one year on the veteran minimum, according to Charania. The 35-year-old veteran guard, who is in Valencia, Spain, with Team Bahamas at the FIBA (International Basketball Federation) Olympic Qualifying Tournament at the moment, spent last season with the Suns, playing in 68 games, including 24 starts.
Gordon is familiar with 76ers’ President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey from their time with the Houston Rockets.
Gordon played with the Rockets for seven seasons from 2016-22 and won the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Sixth Man of the Year Award in the 2016-17 season.
Just last week, Gordon was contemplating his future, and Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro indicated that a return to Phoenix seemed unlikely. With the Suns already boasting a backcourt trio of Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and Grayson Allen under contract for the upcoming season, the minutes available for Gordon looked limited.
Gordon averaged 11.0 points while shooting 44.3 percent from the field and 37.8 percent on three-pointers on about six three-point attempts per game last season. Gordon contributed two assists and 1.8 rebounds over 27.8 minutes per game.
Gordon’s aspirations stretch beyond the NBA hardwood. After clinching gold with Team USA in the 2010 FIBA World Cup, he’s now poised to make history, hoping to lead The Bahamas to the Olympic Games in men’s basketball. Gordon revealed to Eurohoops: “I did represent the US, but I’m also Bahamian. My mom was born there and I grew up there. So for me, to switch over to an even smaller country is more meaningful.
It feels great to represent The Bahamas. We have a good team and we’re going to try to make it to the Olympics.”
The Bahamas squad, which includes NBA talents like DeAndre Ayton and Chavano ‘Buddy’ Hield, will face off against Poland today. They defeated Finland, 96-85, in group stage play on Tuesday. In the other group are host nation Spain, Lebanon and Angola. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals, but only the champion of the tournament will secure a spot in the Olympic basketball tournament at the 2024 Olympic Games.
Gordon remains optimistic, stating: “I think our team is built for it. We have a good enough team to try to make it to the Olympics as long as we stay together.”
Gordon is looking forward to the challenge, hoping to bolster his international basketball journey with a trip to the Olympics.
