JJ Redick

2.1. Birth and family

Jonathan Clay "JJ" Redick was born on June 24, 1984, in Cookeville, Tennessee, to Jeanie and Ken Redick. His middle name, Clay, is attributed to his father's background as a stoneware potter. Ken Redick played basketball for two seasons at Ohio Wesleyan University. The Redick family has a strong basketball heritage: JJ's older twin sisters, Catie and Alyssa, both played for Campbell University, and his youngest sister, Abigail, played for both Virginia Tech and Drexel University. His younger brother, David, was a tight end for the Marshall University football team before an injury led him to stop playing and return home to attend Virginia Tech. Redick acquired his well-known nickname "JJ" as a toddler because his twin sisters frequently repeated his initial nickname, "J." He later graduated from Duke University with a major in history and a minor in cultural anthropology.

2.2. High school career

Redick attended Cave Spring High School in Roanoke, Virginia, where he quickly distinguished himself as a top basketball prospect. As a senior in 2002, he was named a McDonald's All-American and earned the 2002 McDonald's All-American Game MVP award. During the Virginia High School League (VHSL) Class AAA state championship game, Redick scored 43 points, leading the Cave Spring Knights to victory over George Wythe High School of Richmond and setting a VHSL championship-game record for all classes, a record that stood until 2018. Redick also participated in Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball, playing for the Boo Williams team, where he notably competed against future NBA star Dwyane Wade in a July 1999 tournament held in Orlando. Redick was recognized as a five-star recruit by Scout.com and was highly sought after, ranking as the No. 2 shooting guard and the No. 13 player nationally in the 2002 recruiting class. He was also named the 2002 A.P. Virginia Player of the Year, a three-time Gatorade Virginia Player of the Year, and the 2002 Virginia Mr. Basketball. Additionally, he was selected for the Parade Magazine All-America second team and USA Today All-USA second team. His high school career concluded with 2,215 points, setting Virginia's all-time AAA scoring record, and he maintained a three-point shooting percentage exceeding 44 percent. He further won the 2002 McDonald's 3-point shooting competition and played on two AAU national championship teams. In 2021, Redick was inducted into the VHSL Hall of Fame.

2.3. College career

Redick's collegiate playing career at Duke University was marked by significant achievements, record-breaking performances, and intense scrutiny from rival fans. As a freshman in the 2002-03 season, he led his team with 30 points in their victory over NC State in the ACC Tournament championship game and scored 26 points against Central Michigan in the second round of the NCAA tournament. However, he struggled in Duke's Sweet Sixteen loss to Kansas, hitting only two of 16 shots. Redick served as co-captain during his junior year alongside senior point guard Daniel Ewing, and again as captain in his senior year with fellow seniors Shelden Williams, Sean Dockery, and Lee Melchionni.

In the 2004-05 season, Redick led Duke in scoring with an average of 21.8 points per game. He was recognized as the ACC Player of the Year and received the Adolph Rupp Trophy for national player of the year. This Rupp Trophy win prevented Andrew Bogut of Utah from achieving a clean sweep of major player of the year awards that season. In 2006, after a season-long competition with Adam Morrison of Gonzaga, Redick ultimately secured all the major player of the year awards.

Redick set an ACC record by making 54 consecutive free throws, a streak that began on March 20, 2003, and ended on January 15, 2004. This record was later broken on January 22, 2012, by Scott Wood from NC State. Redick aimed to become the NCAA's all-time leading free-throw shooter, a record held by Gary Buchanan of Villanova at 91.3% (minimum 300 made and 2.5 per game). Despite a successful run in the 2006 ACC and early NCAA tournaments, Redick's free-throw percentage slightly declined, and he finished his career with 91.16% (660 out of 724).

On February 14, 2006, during a game against Wake Forest, Redick surpassed Virginia alumnus Curtis Staples's NCAA record of 413 career three-pointers made. He finished his career with an NCAA-record 457 three-point field goals, shooting 40.4% from beyond the arc, though this record was later broken by Travis Bader of Oakland University on February 2, 2014. In the game immediately following his record-breaking three-point performance, on February 19, 2006, Redick scored 30 points against Miami to become Duke's all-time leading scorer, accumulating 2,557 points in his career. He concluded his collegiate career with a total of 2,769 points. On February 25, against Temple, Redick broke Dickie Hemric's 51-year-old ACC scoring record of 2,587 points with a pair of free throws in the final minutes of the game. This record was surpassed in 2009 by Tyler Hansbrough of North Carolina during the 2009 NCAA tournament.

On March 10, 2006, in an ACC Tournament quarterfinal against Miami, Redick scored 25 points, setting a Duke record for points in a single season with 858. He ended the season with 964 points, narrowly missing Dennis Scott's ACC single-season record of 970 points set in 1990. Redick also finished his career as the leading scorer in ACC tournament history, with a total of 225 points, surpassing Len Chappell's 220 points from 1960 to 1962.

As the prominent player for the Blue Devils, Redick became a frequent target of abuse from fans of rival teams. In 2006, Clay Travis of CBS Sports controversially labeled him the "most hated current athlete in America." After his cell phone number was discovered by students from rival universities like Maryland and North Carolina, Redick estimated he received 50 to 75 hate calls daily, enduring obscenity-laced tirades. This intense hostility nearly led him to quit basketball during his sophomore year, prompting him to find an outlet in writing poetry.

Redick had 36 games with double-figure scoring in a single season, a feat that as of March 28, 2010, tied for the 5th most in Duke history with Jon Scheyer, Shane Battier, and Jason Williams. In 2006, he was featured as the cover athlete and official spokesman for the video game College Hoops 2K7, released on Xbox, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation 3. On February 4, 2007, Duke University honored Redick by retiring his No. 4 jersey at Cameron Indoor Stadium in a halftime ceremony, making him the 13th player to receive this distinction. As of the 2022-23 edition of the NCAA Record book, Redick held two NCAA records: career free throw percentage (91.2% with a minimum of 600 attempts) and sophomore season free throw percentage (95.3%), and he was also listed among the all-time leaders in nine other categories.

3.1. Orlando Magic (2006-2013)

Redick was selected with the 11th overall pick in the 2006 NBA draft by the Orlando Magic. Pre-draft scouting reports lauded his perimeter shooting and basketball intelligence but raised concerns about his defensive capabilities and questioned whether he possessed sufficient height or athleticism to consistently create his own shots in the NBA. These concerns were highlighted during the 2006 NCAA tournament when Duke played LSU; LSU's Garrett Temple, a 6.5 ft guard known for his athleticism and long wingspan, successfully disrupted Redick's rhythm, limiting him to one of his worst shooting performances of his college career (3-for-18 from the field, 11 points) in a Duke loss.

In a 2005 interview, Redick expressed a realistic outlook on his potential NBA career, stating, "I think I'll be a role player like 80 percent of the players in the league are. I don't expect to be a star, I'll just shoot, be a team player." Initially, he served as a backup shooting guard behind veteran and fellow Duke alumnus Grant Hill.

During the 2007-08 season, Redick competed for the starting shooting guard position against Trevor Ariza and Keith Bogans. He was occasionally benched during the preseason due to defensive shortcomings. He began the season as a third-string player and saw limited action, partly due to back spasms. However, his playing time increased after Ariza was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers early in the season. In January 2008, Redick publicly expressed his frustration on his personal blog, stating, "it's been proven that even if I play well in the limited minutes I get that not much is going to change." On January 31, 2008, the Orlando Sentinel reported that Redick had asked his agent, Arn Tellem, to explore a possible trade. Magic coach Stan Van Gundy acknowledged Redick's frustration but indicated that it would be difficult to integrate him into the rotation given the team's strong performance. The Magic organization confirmed that Redick would neither receive more minutes nor be traded before the February 21, 2008, trade deadline.

In the 2008-09 season, Redick's playing time significantly increased, averaging 17.4 minutes per game compared to 8.1 minutes the previous season, and he appeared in 64 games versus 34. He averaged 6.0 points per game. The Magic advanced to the NBA Finals but ultimately lost to the Lakers in five games. Redick notably started all seven games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in place of regular starter Courtney Lee. On March 28, 2010, Redick set new career highs with 7 rebounds, 8 assists, and 46 minutes played in a game where he played the entire duration due to injuries to teammates Vince Carter and Mickael Pietrus.

On July 9, 2010, the Chicago Bulls signed Redick to a three-year, 19.00 M USD offer sheet. The Magic matched this offer on July 16, 2010, retaining Redick's rights. On April 25, 2012, Redick achieved a new career high with the Magic, scoring 31 points against the Charlotte Bobcats.

3.2. Milwaukee Bucks (2013)

On February 21, 2013, Redick was traded from the Magic to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of a multi-player deal. The trade involved Redick, guard Ish Smith, and forward Gustavo Ayón moving to Milwaukee, while the Magic received guard Beno Udrih, guard Doron Lamb, and forward Tobias Harris. Redick experienced difficulties during his brief tenure with the Bucks, and his on-court performance suffered as a result.

3.3. Los Angeles Clippers (2013-2017)

On July 10, 2013, Redick was acquired by the Los Angeles Clippers through a three-team sign-and-trade deal that also included the Bucks and the Phoenix Suns. He reportedly signed a four-year, 27.00 M USD contract with the Clippers. With the Clippers, Redick transitioned into a prominent role, becoming a "full-fledged starter" in the NBA, starting 218 of his first 219 games for the team.

On January 15, 2014, Redick scored a then-career-high 33 points in a 129-127 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. His offensive prowess continued to grow, and on January 18, 2016, he achieved a new career-high of 40 points in a 140-132 overtime win against the Houston Rockets. In that game, he made his first five three-point attempts and finished 9-of-12 from beyond the arc, tying Caron Butler's franchise record for three-pointers made in a single game. Redick also participated in the Three-Point Contest during the 2016 NBA All-Star weekend.

On November 5, 2016, Redick extended his streak of consecutive games with at least one made three-pointer to 62 in a 116-92 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. During the same game, he completed his 26th career four-point play. On April 12, 2017, in the regular-season finale against Sacramento, Redick made three 3-pointers, bringing his season total to 201. This achievement broke both his personal career high and the single-season franchise record for three-pointers made, which he previously set at 200. The Clippers concluded their season by losing in the first round of the NBA playoffs to the Utah Jazz in seven games.

3.4. Philadelphia 76ers (2017-2019)

On July 8, 2017, Redick signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia 76ers worth 23.00 M USD. He re-signed with the 76ers on July 6, 2018. Redick became a crucial offensive component for the 76ers, particularly known for his shooting ability.

On November 3, 2017, Redick scored 31 points on 11-of-19 shooting, including 8-of-12 from three-point range, in a 121-110 victory over the Indiana Pacers. Later that month, on November 25, 2017, he made eight 3-pointers and scored 29 points in a 130-111 win against his former team, the Orlando Magic. In January 2018, Redick missed seven games due to a leg injury.

For the start of the 2018-19 season, Redick was moved to the bench. On October 20, he delivered his best performance since the change, scoring 31 points on 10-of-20 shooting, including eight 3-pointers, in a narrow 116-115 win over the Magic. On December 19, 2018, in a 131-109 victory against the New York Knicks, Redick achieved a significant career milestone by scoring his 10,000th career point. On February 8, 2019, he posted a season-high 34 points in a 117-110 win over the Denver Nuggets. On March 19, he came close to recording his first career triple-double, finishing with 27 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists in a 118-114 victory against the Charlotte Hornets. In April 2019, Redick further cemented his legacy with the team by setting the franchise record for most 3-pointers in a single season, surpassing Kyle Korver's mark of 226 set in the 2004-05 season.

3.5. New Orleans Pelicans (2019-2021)

On July 15, 2019, Redick signed with the New Orleans Pelicans. His first season with the Pelicans concluded with a 30-42 record in the pandemic-shortened season, resulting in the team missing the playoffs. This marked the first time in Redick's entire 13-year NBA career that he missed the playoffs, ending his impressive individual streak. In his second season with New Orleans, he was reunited with his former Orlando Magic head coach, Stan Van Gundy, who took over as the Pelicans' head coach.

3.6. Dallas Mavericks (2021)

Redick's time with the New Orleans Pelicans came to an end on March 26, 2021, when he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks. The trade sent Redick and Nicolò Melli to Dallas in exchange for James Johnson, Wes Iwundu, and a 2021 second-round draft pick. He made his debut with the Mavericks on April 12. During his brief stint with the team, he played 14 minutes, recording one field goal, in a 113-95 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.

3.7. Retirement as a player

After 15 seasons in the NBA, J.J. Redick officially announced his retirement from playing basketball on September 21, 2021. He made the announcement via his YouTube channel at the age of 37, reflecting on his career by stating, "All good things must come to an end. It's a cliché that's used often but rarely does it hold its true meaning. This, however, is not one of those instances." Following his retirement, on October 27, 2021, it was announced that Redick would embark on a new chapter in his career as a sports analyst for ESPN.

5.1. Los Angeles Lakers (2024-present)

On June 24, 2024, J.J. Redick was officially announced as the 29th head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, marking his debut as a professional basketball coach. This appointment made Redick a rookie head coach with no prior coaching experience at the professional level, apart from serving as a volunteer head coach for his 9-year-old son's fourth-grade boys team at Brooklyn Basketball Academy. In his coaching debut on October 22, 2024, Redick led the Lakers to a season-opening victory, defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves 110-103.

6.1. Podcasting

In January 2016, J.J. Redick launched his first podcast on Yahoo! Sports, making him the first active NBA player and the second active professional athlete (after A. J. Hawk) to host a weekly podcast during the regular season. Redick stated that he faced no pushback from organizations regarding his podcasting activities, attributing this to his prioritization of on-court basketball duties.

His initial podcast, titled The Vertical, premiered on Yahoo! Sports in 2016. In July 2017, he moved his podcast to Uninterrupted, a media company co-founded by LeBron James, where it was retitled The Chronicles of Redick. Following this, Redick decided to continue his podcast episodes on The Ringer in 2017. He hosted three seasons with The Ringer: two as a solo host and the third with producer and writer Tommy Alter as co-host.

In 2020, Redick departed from The Ringer to gain ownership of his content and establish his own media company. He co-founded ThreeFourTwo Productions with Tommy Alter, a name that references the 342 shots Redick would take every Sunday during the offseason. Under this new venture, he co-hosted "The Old Man and the Three" with Alter, which premiered on August 5, 2020, from inside the NBA bubble in Orlando, Florida, with Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers as the inaugural guest. This podcast has garnered over 320 million views on YouTube and holds a 4.8-star rating on Apple Podcasts.

In March 2024, Redick partnered with LeBron James to launch a new podcast titled Mind the Game. Co-produced by Redick's ThreeFourTwo Productions and James' Uninterrupted, the podcast features "pure conversations about basketball" between the two. In June 2024, Redick announced that he would be taking an indefinite hiatus from podcasting to fully commit to his new role as head coach for the Los Angeles Lakers.

6.2. Broadcasting

Following his retirement as a player, J.J. Redick transitioned into a career as an on-air sports analyst for ESPN, with his appointment announced on October 27, 2021. He made his broadcasting debut on November 3, 2021, serving as a studio analyst for ESPN's coverage of the game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Atlanta Hawks. Redick also made occasional appearances on ESPN's debate show First Take.

In August 2023, Redick was assigned to ESPN's second core broadcast team, working alongside Ryan Ruocco and Richard Jefferson. By February 2024, his role expanded further when he was moved to ESPN's lead broadcast team, joining renowned commentators Mike Breen and Doris Burke, replacing Doc Rivers who had left to become the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks. However, Redick departed from ESPN in June 2024 upon accepting the head coaching position for the Los Angeles Lakers.

8.1. Major awards and honors

• Consensus College Player of the Year (2006)
• 2× consensus first-team All-American (2005, 2006)
• Consensus third-team All-American (2004)
• Associated Press First Team All-American (2005, 2006)
• Associated Press Player of the Year (2006)
• The Sporting News National Player of the Year (2005, 2006)
• United States Basketball Writers Association's Oscar Robertson Trophy Co-Player of the Year (2006)
• Naismith College Player of the Year (2006)
• John R. Wooden Player of the Year Award (2006)
• John R. Wooden All-American Team (2006)
• United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) (2006)
• NABC Player of the Year (2006)
• 2× ACC Tournament MVP (2005, 2006)
• Ten-time ACC Player of the Week
• Lowe's Senior CLASS Award (2006)
• National Association of Basketball Coaches Co-Player of the Year (2006)
• Anthony J. McKelvin Award (ACC Athlete of the Year for all sports) (2006)
• 2× Adolph Rupp Trophy (2005, 2006)
• 2× ACC Player of the Year (2005, 2006)
• 2× First-team All-ACC (2005, 2006)
• 3x All-ACC (2003, 2004, 2005)
• 3x All-ACC tournament (2003, 2005, 2006)
• ACC All Freshman (2003)
• No. 4 retired by Duke Blue Devils (2007)
• McDonald's All-American (2002)
• McDonald's All-American Game MVP (2002)
• Parade Magazine All-America second team (2002)
• USA Today All-USA second team (2002)
• Virginia Mr. Basketball (2002)
• 2002 A.P. Virginia Player of the Year
• Three-time Gatorade Virginia Player of the Year
• Virginia's all-time AAA leading scorer (2,215 career points)
• Won the 2002 McDonald's 3-point shooting competition
• Won Virginia AAA state title championship at Cave Spring High (2002)
• 2× AAU first team All-American (2002)
• Played on two AAU national championship teams (Hampton's Boo Williams All-Stars)
• Inducted into VHSL Hall of Fame (2021)
• NBA 3-Point Field Goal Percentage Leader (2016)

8.2. Records

9.1. NBA regular season

9.2. NBA playoffs

9.3. College