By: Brian Schmitz
J.J. Redick might not be quick, but he's a quick study. He knew that if he ever wanted to play in the NBA, he'd have to learn survival skills.
"I'm a slow white guy," said Redick, smiling.
Redick discovered very early that he mostly needed to rely on the kindness of teammates. They set screens to spring him free so he could launch his textbook jump shot.
"I came to this realization when I was 12," he said. "It was a matter of learning different tricks."
A decade later, Redick shot his way into the pros after a decorated career at Duke.
The Orlando Magic selected him with the No. 11 pick in the NBA draft Wednesday night. He was in town Thursday, along with forward James Augustine, a second-round pick.
Redick will need teammates to lead interference and create diversions like never before. He will be facing quicker and stronger defenders than he did in college.
Much of his success with the Magic largely will depend on the progress of forward Dwight Howard and point guard Jameer Nelson, considered the building blocks of Orlando's future.
"The NBA offense is about spacing," Magic Coach Brian Hill said. "And [Redick's] another guy that's going to allow us to spread the floor as Dwight continues to develop in the low post and demand more and more defensive attention.
"This year, it will be harder for teams to collapse their defense on Dwight, with Jameer's penetration ability. This gives [Jameer] another guy he can kick the ball out to on the perimeter and spread the defense because [J.J.'s] a 3-point threat."
Redick also appealed to the Magic because of his deadeye from long range. He set an NCAA record for 3-pointers made and added, "A lot of them were from NBA 3-point range."
Redick, 6 feet 4, said his style most resembles that of former Indiana Pacer Reggie Miller. Miller was in constant motion, running behind screens and popping his jump shot from various spots and angles.
"That's kind of how I played in college, like a Reggie Miller," he said.
"Reggie's a future Hall of Famer and I know I'm setting the bar high, but that's how I patterned my game."
Redick also has Miller's coldbloodedness when it comes to taking the big shot. He pitched until he was 13 because, "I wanted the game on my shoulders."
The question might be whether he has the size, strength and speed at 190 pounds to consistently create his own shot.
Redick said he believes he can because he has been working on his bag of tricks since the seventh grade. "I learned how to get open," he said. "How to change speeds."
Said Hill, "Redick can shoot the ball coming off screens, he can shoot it off the dribble, he can create space to get his shot off. I don't think he's going to have any trouble getting his shot off."
Hill said he believes Redick's "cocky mentality" and the fact he plays "with a chip on his shoulder" drives him to find openings and convert doubters. When he played at Duke, his swagger irritated fans who heckled him unmercifully.
"It's very important," Redick said of his swagger. "Some guys are gifted physically. With me, it's a fine line. I understand that. So I have a chip on my shoulder, that edge."
Many wonder whether that attitude will help him shore up a weakness on the defensive end. Don't expect the Magic to put him in matchups in which he can be exposed.
Redick said he believes that part of his game is underrated, because his offensive proficiency garnered the attention. Although the Blue Devils are known for their defense, Redick said he'll simply "have to earn" his NBA defensive stripes.
Redick said that, sure, Kobe Bryant could take him off the dribble. Then he said, "If you can name me two guys in the league who can stop Kobe, I'll give you $5."
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