HOUSTON -- At some point you have to leave. Too many losses, too many injuries and too much turmoil eventually wear a player down.
Eric Gordon had reached that point after five seasons in New Orleans, where countless injuries and the inability to keep a team together yielded only one playoff appearance during Gordon's time with the team.
When the 27-year-old Gordon became an unrestricted free agent this past summer, he sought a new challenge in a place where he could fit in and contribute.
When his teammate in New Orleans, Ryan Anderson, decided to sign a free-agent contract with the Houston Rockets, Gordon saw the potential. Playing with James Harden in a wide-open offensive system run by Mike D'Antoni -- for a franchise with a much better tradition than New Orleans -- appealed to him.
After starting for the majority of his time in New Orleans, Gordon signed a four-year, $53 million deal to come off the bench for the Rockets.
In 18 of 26 games off the bench, Gordon has emerged as a leading early-season candidate for Sixth Man of the Year. He's second in bench scoring at 17.6 points per game, shooting 45.2 percent from the field and making 46.4 percent of his 3-point shots (higher marks than he'd posted as a starter in Houston). Gordon has made at least three 3-pointers in the past 11 games, tied for the fifth-longest streak in league history.
When the Pelicans visit the Rockets on Friday night, they'll see a healthy and happy Gordon on the floor.
"It was definitely time for me to leave," Gordon said. "Coming here in coach D'Antoni's system and I've been familiar with a lot of the guys that are here. I just thought it was going to be good for me -- a good organization, a good training staff. I just thought they had the whole package for me and all I had to do is just play and not worry about injuries and put that stuff in the past and just revive myself."
Gordon was part of the 2011 blockbuster deal that sent Chris Paul to the LA Clippers and Gordon to the Pelicans. Hopes were high, but Gordon missed 115 games in his first three seasons with various injuries. In July 2012, as a restricted free agent, he signed a four-year, $58 million offer sheet with the Phoenix Suns, hoping to escape. The Pelicans pulled him back in by matching it. Gordon stuck with it, but wins were lacking and injuries mounting.
"When I look back on it, the only guys that's been there is Anthony Davis, and since me and Ryan left, there's been a lot of transition, a lot of guys in and out," Gordon said. "So what's the stability there? I'm not really worried about what's going on down there, but I just know what happened down there and my role changed year by year. So we really had only one good year (2014-15). It's been tough -- it was a roller coaster there."
When it came time for Gordon to seek a new home, he lost weight and rededicated himself to the cause while looking for a place that fit his skill set.
Gordon can beat defenders off the dribble, shoot with confidence from 3-point range and defend. All of which is perfect for D'Antoni.
"I think he's confident, he physically feels better," D'Antoni said. "He lost some weight this summer, he really got himself in shape [and] he's been injury-free, knock on wood, has been rededicated in the weight room and the training room and I think he feels that. And once you feel good, you become more confident. The offense is tailor-made to him and playing with James is tailor-made for him, and I think there are a lot of good things going on and he's taking advantage of it."
When Gordon is on the floor, the Rockets' offensive rating is 112.3 with an effective field-goal percentage of 54.4 percent.
Those close to Gordon say he is more relaxed and confident.
"He's happy, he's playing at a super-high level and really being used to the best of his ability," Anderson said. "He's such a great, talented guy -- he's an All-star, in my opinion. It's really good to see him in his element playing at the peak of his game. I know that he's happy."