J.J. Redick has never missed the playoffs. Thirteen seasons in the NBA, 13 trips to the postseason. Whether in Orlando or with the Clippers or the past couple of seasons in Philly, the team always made it.
That streak is in jeopardy this season. Redick is on a promising but young New Orleans team playing in a stacked Western Conference. Vegas oddsmakers have the Pelicans ninth in the West (based on title odds) and most pundits see New Orleans being competitive but just out of a playoff chase where it’s likely going to take somewhere close to the 48 wins it did last year to make the postseason.
Reddick wants none of that, he expects to make the playoffs and doesn’t want No. 1 pick Zion Williamson screwing it up — and Reddick told him that. And he didn’t use the word “screw” either.
JJ to Zion: Don’t 🤐 this up for me
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) September 30, 2019
Zion: Yea. He did say that. 😂 pic.twitter.com/YSMioZ8VaI
The Pelicans got this right: Reddick and Jrue Holiday are exactly the kind of veterans you want in the locker room around Williamson his rookie year.