Redick Continues Busy Summer On USA Select Team

LAS VEGAS ? What a difference a year can make. A year ago, J.J. Redick was trying to recover from an injury while preparing for his rookie year in the NBA after being the No. 11 pick in the draft by the Orlando Magic. This summer, Redick is currently participating with his third team in the last six weeks that will only enhance his development.

“I look out yesterday, and he's guarding Kobe Bryant and going up against Michael Redd and LeBron (James) ,” Duke assistant coach Chris Collins said. Collins is assisting Duke mentor Mike Krzyzewski and the USA Senior National Team as they prepare for the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship, where they will look to qualify for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.

Redick is a member of the USA Senior National Team but is playing against the team as part of the USA Select Team the week before the championship begins. The USA Select team is a group of young NBA players designed specifically to practice against the Senior National Team.

“Playing with and against these players is another thing that I would put in the ?very cool list' of things that I have done along with winning ACC Championships,” Redick said. “Being on the select team helps my development. For the national team, it only helps because it gives them NBA competition to practice against. The foreign teams may have three or four NBA guys. It's good competition for them and will help then get ready."

USA Select coach P.J. Carlesimo is impressed with Redick's attitude and commitment to USA Basketball.

“J.J.'s helping us out a lot,” Carlesimo said. “He's had a great attitude starting with one team and ending up with the other. That says a lot about him that he wants to improve as a player and also about his commitment for the whole project here for USA Basketball.”

Unlike 2006, Redick's summer in 2007 has been a healthy one. Redick led all scorers at the 2007 Pepsi Pro Summer League, averaging 19.8 points and adding 3.8 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game from July 9-13 while earning first-team honors.

Redick scored in double figures in all five games during the summer league, where young players from the Magic matched up against the Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, Charlotte Bobcats, Miami Heat and New Jersey Nets. Redick had some performances that would remind Duke fans of his days at Cameron Indoor Stadium, scoring 30 points in his first outing against the Nets and two days later scored 26 against the Bobcats.

Redick's summer then continued as part of the Senior National Team, where he participated in minicamp July 20-22 here in Las Vegas. Although it was a short camp, Redick had some incredible opportunities and took full advantage of the time.

"I talked to a couple of the guys at length,” Redick said. “Kirk [Heinrich], Mike Miller and Kobe [Bryant]. I shot with (Bryant) the other day after practice and for me that was a surreal experience. He's the best.”

Collins believes the experiences with and against the Senior National Team will be a huge help to Redick entering his second season in the NBA.

“For his development where he can play against the best players at his position in the league will be a huge confidence boost for him,” Collins said. “One of his strengths is his ability to become incredibly focused and get on a mission. He had to do that after his second season at Duke. The main positive that he went through last year was to regain that a little bit. It's not fun sitting over there on the bench and wanting to play.”

Redick had a slow start to his NBA career, not seeing action until Nov. 25, nearly a month into the season. Redick only saw action in nine games into late January before beginning to break out right before the All-Star break. Redick scored in double figures in four out of five games to open February and ended the season playing in 42 games and averaging 6.0 points per game.

“The thing I've had to learn over the past year is patience,” Redick said. “I don't think I'm very good at having patience. By nature, I want things to happen quickly and sometimes they don't.”

A side benefit to the USA Basketball experience is Redick and Magic teammate Dwight Howard have been able to get to know each other and bond a little bit over the summer. Howard is excited for the coming NBA season.

"J.J. has always been a phenomenal shooter," Howard said. "His next step is just gaining confidence and shooting it like we all know he can shoot it. He has a great attitude and he just wants to play."

"Playing with and being around Dwight (Howard) will only help Redick," Collins said, who also believes Redick's attitude and work ethic will begin to pay dividends. “I see him getting quicker, getting stronger, he's getting more explosive. He has a skill not too many people have and you put that with a desire and a work ethic and a hunger. He's going to succeed.”

Redick Continues Busy Summer On USA Select Team

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