SI: Eric Bledsoe ranked 49 in top 100 NBA players

Sep 14, 2016, 9:35 AM | Updated: 10:28 am

Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe, right, drives past Detroit Pistons forward Aron Baynes during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Nov. 6, 2015, in Phoenix. The Pistons won 100-92. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

BY BEN FLORES

Arizona Sports

Sports Illustrated released their list of the Top 100 NBA players of 2017, and Eric Bledsoe became the third Phoenix Sun to appear on the list.

After being ranked at No. 33 the previous season, he still managed to crack the NBA’s top 50 after a disastrous season not only for the Suns, but for him personally. He tore his meniscus the day after Christmas in a game against the Philadelphia 76ers. That was the last game he would suit up for that season.

SI’s Rob Mahoney saw Bledsoe as a high-performance player, but with all of his injuries, there is no telling how he will hold up.

In theory, Bledsoe is an impressively productive shot creator, a propulsive driver, and one of the league’s most oppressive perimeter defenders. In reality, he’s a short guard with two bad knees. That divide creates all kinds of confusion for this kind of exercise, given that the very concept of Bledsoe as a player is subject to the uncertainty swirling around compounding surgeries. Bledsoe has performed well even after returning from multiple previous procedures. Yet this latest operation—to repair the meniscus in his previously healthy left knee—casts further doubt as to how his body will hold up. Bledsoe fought through knee injuries while in a lesser role with the Clippers and now only has more strain on his body in greater minutes and greater usage. It’s reasonable to wonder if the 26-year-old is physically suited for the kind of stardom his game suggests; a team would naturally want to make the most of all that Bledsoe does well and could, in the process, contribute to his gradual wear down.

The Kentucky product has been plagued by injuries since being acquired in July of 2013. Bledsoe has missed a total of 91 games over three seasons, including 51 last year. In the 31 games he did play in 2015-16, he averaged 20.4 points and 6.1 assists.

Despite only being 26-years-old, he’s considered to be one of the veterans on the team, and is looked upon as the leader. Only time will tell if he can stay healthy and help lead the Suns to a better 2016-17 campaign.

Phoenix Suns

Kellan Olson

What Suns have to replicate, fix to avoid 3-0 hole vs. T-Wolves

The formula for the Phoenix Suns to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves is there. The doubt is in their ability to achieve that.

7 hours ago

Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns warms up before the start of game one of the Western Conferenc...

Kellan Olson

Kevin Durant preaches execution over ‘rah-rah speeches’ for Suns

Kevin Durant did not choose to emphasize communication much as a key for the Suns to stay consistent and instead focused on execution.

21 hours ago

Grayson Allen #8 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball during the second half in game one of the We...

Kellan Olson

Suns’ Grayson Allen questionable after re-injuring ankle vs. T-Wolves

Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen is questionable for Game 3 against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday after re-injuring his ankle.

22 hours ago

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Is Kyler Murray in the Danger Zone with Marvin Harrison Jr.?

With there being widespread speculation that the Arizona Cardinals will take wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. with the 4th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Wolf & Luke wonder if he would be the right piece to help propel quarterback Kyler Murray to an explosive season.

24 hours ago

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Bickley Blast: Suns’ superteam is failing ‘spectacularly’

With the Phoenix Suns in a 2-0 hole to the Minnesota Timberwolves in their first round playoff series, Dan Bickley wonders if the team can even the series up and take it back to Minnesota.

1 day ago

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Do the Phoenix Suns have any fight left?

Video: Felisa Cárdenas and Jeremy Schnell/Arizona Sports Subscribe to the Arizona Sports daily newsletter: https://bit.ly/3QWcj1x Read articles from Arizona Sports: https://arizonasports.com/ Download the Arizona Sports app: https://arizonasports.com/the-arizona-sports-98-7-fm-app/ Sign up for texts from Arizona Sports: https://arizonasports.com/text-alerts/ Listen live to Arizona Sports: https://arizonasports.com/listen-live/ Follow the team: https://bit.ly/3R0PIAJ ARIZONA SPORTS SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArizonaSports/ X: https://x.com/azsports TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@arizonasports987 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arizsports/ ARIZONA SPORTS PODCASTS: https://arizonasports.com/category/podcasts/

2 days ago