Eric Bledsoe is still REALLY good at basketball

Eric Bledsoe is playing basketball in Rupp Arena like it’s 2010 all over again. Nearly 15 years removed from his lone season at Kentucky, the former Wildcat is still getting buckets.

Bledsoe has been key to La Familia’s 3-0 start to The Basketball Tournament and a spot in next week’s Elite 8. Now 34 years old, the 6-foot-1 point guard was arguably the most talented overall player in the Lexington Regional (don’t overlook Kerem Kanter, though). He averaged 17.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game for Kentucky’s alumni team while shooting 41 percent from the field, 35.3 percent from deep, and 72.2 percent from the line.

He’s still really, really good at this game. Performing like this in Rupp, back in front of the Big Blue Nation so many years later, is just the cherry on top. Bledsoe is hooping.

JUST LOOK AT THE HANDLES AND JUMPER BY ERIC BLEDSOE!

He has been HOOPING at TBT and is looking to lead @LaFamiliaTBT to the Quarterfinals!

Tune in on FS1 pic.twitter.com/oDCjZeL5dY

— TBT (@thetournament) July 24, 2024

Bledsoe has spent the last two seasons playing professionally in China for the Shanghai Sharks where he’s been doing similar things to what we’ve seen the last week in Lexington. He averaged 16.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per outing during that time overseas. His NBA career is likely behind him at this point, but let’s not forget that he’s only a couple of years removed from being an impactful player in the league.

We sometimes forget just how good Bledsoe has been since going pro. He played 12 seasons in the NBA, made the All-Rookie Team at 21 years old, ripped off two All-Defensive Team honors at 29 and 30, and nearly made an All-Star team with the Phoenix Suns at 27. Bledsoe appeared in 756 NBA games with per-game averages of 13.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.4 steals. It was just two seasons ago he was scoring 10 points per game for the Los Angeles Clippers.

Of course he was going to shine at TBT — he’s better than 99 percent of the players in the 64-team field.

Bledsoe’s quick twitch moves, spins past defenders, and stepback contested jumpers have made him La Familia’s main attraction. The shots don’t always fall, but man, he makes all of them a spectacle to watch. He “oohs” and “aahs” the crowd to death. Poor Jon Elmore of Herd That was shark bait for Bledsoe on Tuesday night.

The nostalgia of it all puts a smile on your face.

TOO EASY FOR ERIC BLEDSOE!

He gets by Jon Elmore with ease and finishes the layup to end the 1st half@LaFamiliaTBT up 38-30 over Herd That on FS1 pic.twitter.com/8P7DKE3VSX

— TBT (@thetournament) July 24, 2024

Bledsoe and La Familia are halfway to winning TBT’s $1 million grand prize. The next game could be the best one yet too. La Familia will face the winner of The Ville-Team DRC next week. The Ville is a squad made up of former Louisville players. Bledsoe is 1-0 against Louisville in his career and nothing would make the BBN happier than him going 2-0.