Eric Bledsoe is an American professional basketball guard who currently plays for the Phoenix
Suns of the National Basketball Association. He was selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder
with the 18th overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft and subsequently traded to the Los Angeles
Clippers.
College career Bledsoe played for one year at the University
of Kentucky, averaging 11.3 points per game. Although he is a point guard, he mostly played
shooting guard for the 35–3 Wildcats, alongside John Wall.
Grade controversy In September 2010, it was reported that Bledsoe
may have been ineligible to play his one season for Kentucky when discrepancies were found
in his high school transcripts. The Alabama Public School System hired the independent
law firm of White Arnold & Dow to investigate claims that one of Bledsoe's grades was improperly
changed. His algebra grade had been changed from a C to an A, thus raising his GPA high
enough that he was eligible for the NCAA. Though the investigators concluded that the
instructor's reasons for changing the grade were "not credible," and that a significant
number of his high school grades were written over to reflect higher scores/grades. The
school board voted to allow the grade to stand, and the NCAA declared its investigation of
Bledsoe's eligibility closed the following week.
Professional career Los Angeles Clippers
On April 7, 2010, Bledsoe announced that he would forgo his final three seasons of collegiate
eligibility and enter the 2010 NBA Draft. He was touted for his quickness, ball handling
ability, and ability to hit the long ball. Bledsoe was picked 18th overall in the 2010
NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder but was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. In
his first season, he averaged 6.7 points and 3.6 assists and started 25 games. As a result,
he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. In his second season, due to the Clippers'
acquisition of Chris Paul, he played only an average of 11 minutes per game, with only
one start, and his stats dropped. In fact, during that season, he ended up being assigned
to the Clippers' D-League affiliate team, the Bakersfield Jam. However, during his third
season, his statistics ended up rising in spite of still being behind Chris Paul for
most of the games that he played. Bledsoe would also end up participating in the 2013
All-Star Game's Slam Dunk Contest. Phoenix Suns
On July 10, 2013, Bledsoe was traded to the Phoenix Suns alongside teammate Caron Butler
in a three-way trade with the L.A. Clippers and the Milwaukee Bucks that sent the Suns'
Jared Dudley and the Bucks' J. J. Redick to the Clippers with two different second round
picks going to the Bucks. On his opening night debut with the Suns, Bledsoe helped the team
by getting 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists in a 104-91 victory over the Portland Trail
Blazers. In his second game with the Suns, Bledsoe hit his first ever game-winning shot
in an 87-84 home victory over the Utah Jazz. Before the November 19, 2013 game against
the Sacramento Kings, Bledsoe's shin collided with fellow teammate P. J. Tucker during practice.
He would miss six games before returning with 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals in a 112-101
victory against the Jazz on November 29, 2013. Bledsoe gained a career-high 28 points in
a 116-107 victory against the Sacramento Kings on December 13, 2013. Bledsoe also got his
first double-double with the Suns by scoring 16 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, and putting
up 7 assists in a blowout 117-90 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on December 23, 2013.
During the third quarter of the Suns' last game of 2013 against the Clippers, Bledsoe
injured his left shin. What began as a shin injury eventually turned into a meniscus injury
that would leave him sidelined for nearly two and a half months. His injury was a leading
factor in the Suns signing former player Leandro Barbosa back onto the team. Bledsoe returned
to action on March 12, 2014 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He started for the Suns again and
racked up 17 points and 10 rebounds two days later in an 87-80 victory against the Boston
Celtics. He continued to start for the team throughout the rest of the season. On April
4, 2014, Bledsoe scored 30 points, setting a new NBA career high, in a 109-93 victory
over the Portland Trail Blazers. On June 27, 2014, the Suns extended a qualifying
offer to Bledsoe, thus making him a restricted free agent. After months of deliberation and
rumors concerning his future, Bledsoe and the Suns reached an agreement on a new five-year,
$70 million contract on September 24, 2014. NBA career statistics
Regular season Playoffs
References
External links NBA.com Profile
ESPN.com Profile Eric Bledsoe on Twitter