Player Name: Eric Bledsoe (Phoenix Suns)
Position: Guard
Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 190 pounds
Why you need to watch him on NBA League Pass: In the NBA, opportunity may be the most valuable currency. Plenty of NBA players can hit a jumper or grab a rebound, but often it’s about finding the right fit in the right program, where a player has the best chance to shine. And sometimes, they shine bright enough for the whole world to see.
Eric Bledsoe was a mid-first round pick in the 2010 NBA Draft out of Kentucky, where he played one season out of position at off guard to accommodate John Wall. In the NBA, back at his natural point position, Bledsoe spent his first three seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, where he mostly served as a backup.
Bledsoe finally stepped into the spotlight in 2013, following a trade to the Phoenix Suns. Given room to roam and the green light to go, Bledsoe transformed the Phoenix attack into 7 Seconds or Less 2.0, a hypercharged version of Phoenix’s famed fast break attack. While he’s point guard sized, Bledsoe is bulky enough to bull his way past most defenders, but athletic enough to beat players in transition.
It’s Bledsoe’s engine that drives the Phoenix Suns, and makes them imminently re-watchable, night after night. These Suns have battled health and roster turnover the last few seasons, but now seem set to try and rise into the Western Conference playoff mix.
Ever wonder what it would be like to play a basketball video game with the turbo button stuck? Watch Bledsoe. He’ll show you.
— Lang Whitaker
