(Vicky Graff Photo)
Eric Bledsoe was a huge part of the start of the John Calipari era in Kentucky and part of what many felt was the nation’s best team before a miserable shooting night by the Cats led to an Elite Eight loss to West Virginia.
Bledsoe averaged 11.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 37 games during the 35-3 season and scored in double figures 20 times.
He was the 18th overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft and went on to play in 756 NBA regular-season games with the LA Clippers, Phoenix, Milwaukee and New Orleans from 2010-2022 averaging 13.7 points per game and in 48 playoff games where he averaged 11.1 points per game.
Now the talented guard is back in Lexington playing for La Familia, UK’s alumni team that makes its TBT (The Basketball Tournament) debut tonight in Rupp Arena.
“It feels good to be home. I haven’t been here in a while and that’s my bad,” Eric Bledsoe said. “I feel blessed being back where it all started for me. I’m definitely excited to play at Rupp.”
Bledsoe played with freshmen John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins his one season at UK along with junior Patrick Patterson — and all had long NBA careers.
“I was a part of the first group — Cal’s first group. When we came, it kind of shifted Kentucky basketball back where it needed to be,” Bledsoe said about the UK revival after two years with Billy Gillispie.
“We started it and the guys after us carried it on. Even before us, we wanted to pick back up that legacy and pass it on to the young guys to carry it on.”
Bledsoe said at the team’s media day he appreciated the history of the national championship banners hanging in the Craft Center.
“We didn’t make it to the championship, but we’re still a part of each and every individual that was here before and will be here afterward. You can’t do anything but respect that tradition,” he said. “It helps bring guys together and always will.”
