Eric Gordon has carved out a lengthy NBA career, but the veteran guard says his ultimate goal has always been tied to international basketball.
Speaking on his aspirations, Gordon made clear that competing on the Olympic stage ranks above winning an NBA championship. “I would’ve loved to take the Bahamas to the Olympics. I would’ve loved that,” Gordon said on Básquet Plus, via HoopsHype. “Of course, the dream was always to win a gold medal in the Olympics.”
Gordon, who began his NBA career with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2008, has played for multiple franchises, including New Orleans, Houston, Phoenix, and now Philadelphia. Despite averaging 15.3 points per game across 925 regular-season appearances, he places Olympic participation at the top of his basketball priorities.
The guard previously represented the United States in the 2010 FIBA World Championship, helping Team USA secure gold while shooting an efficient 45.2 percent from three-point range. However, in 2023, FIBA cleared him to switch national teams, allowing him to represent the Bahamas.
That decision proved impactful at the 2024 Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament. Gordon scored 27 points in the championship game, powering the Bahamas to a victory that advanced them to the qualifying rounds. Although the team fell short of earning an Olympic berth in Valencia, Spain, Gordon’s leadership kept them competitive until the final.
The 36-year-old acknowledged that age could make a return in 2028 unlikely. “It’s going to be hard, because that’s in 2028, and as I get older it’s going to be tough,” Gordon said. Still, he emphasized that playing on the Olympic stage with the Bahamas would be the pinnacle of his career.
While Gordon has played in 64 postseason games during his NBA career, including a trip to the Western Conference Finals with the Rockets in 2018, he remains without a championship ring. His current role with the Philadelphia 76ers has shifted to that of a veteran contributor, averaging 6.8 points in 19.7 minutes this season.
