Brace Hemmelgarn – USA Today Sports Images
The Phoenix Suns, a team stuck in a tough spot in regards to their NBA future, were able to pull off a solid trade this summer that makes their prospects a little bit brighter. Early this off-season, they were able to acquire guard Eric Bledsoe from the Los Angeles Clippers in a three-team deal where they sent away Jared Dudley.
Bledsoe has had a ton of people raving over the past few years about his potential as a point guard in this league. He has crazy athleticism, a great motor and the skills that could develop him into a solid playmaker. There’s no reason to believe that Bledsoe won’t be a solid player in the NBA.
However, Bledsoe’s new teammate and backcourt-mate, Goran Dragic, seems to have a misguided perception of how good Bledsoe can be and what kind of player that he is. In a recent interview with Matt Petersen on NBA.com, Dragic raved about Bledsoe’s strength and his ability in the open-floor. However, he got a bit carried away when he called Bledsoe a “mini-LeBron James.”
Let me be clear: I like Bledsoe as a player and think he can help the Suns this season and in the future. However, calling him a mini-LeBron James is a bit much. I understand why Dragic would say that; Bledsoe is an elite athlete with amazing presence in transition that does a lot of different things well.
However, the primary difference between Bledsoe and LeBron is the fact that Bledsoe does a lot of things well and James does a lot of things at an elite level. Bledsoe is a solid scorer, solid passer and solid defender; LeBron is one of the best in the league in all of those areas.
It’s a positive for Phoenix that Dragic is high on Bledsoe and excited about the prospect of playing alongside him. However, he needs to check the “mini-LeBron” stuff at the door. That sets up himself, Bledsoe and the Suns for disappointment, which they’ve had enough of lately.
Cody Williams is a Senior Writer with Rant Sports. Follow Cody on Twitter @TheSizzle20, add him on Google and like his Facebook page.
Related:
Phoenix Suns 2013 Player Profile: Kendall Marshall
Phoenix Suns 2013 Player Profile: Eric Bledsoe
Phoenix Suns 2013 Player Profile: Miles Plumlee
