I remember the first time I saw JJ Redick play - it was during his Duke years, and even then you could tell there was something special about his shooting form. The way he'd catch and release in one fluid motion became the stuff of college basketball legend. Looking back at his complete basketball reference stats today, what strikes me most isn't just the raw numbers but the story they tell about a player who maximized every ounce of his potential.
When you dive into the stats, the three-point shooting obviously jumps out - 41.5% for his career is just ridiculous when you consider the volume and difficulty of shots he took. I've always been fascinated by shooters who maintain efficiency while being the primary focus of opposing defenses, and Redick's numbers in this regard are genuinely elite. His free throw percentage of 89.2% ranks among the best in NBA history, which speaks to that mechanical perfection he honed through thousands of practice shots. What many casual fans might not realize is that Redick wasn't just a shooter - he developed into a legitimate playmaker later in his career, averaging nearly 5 assists per game during his final seasons with New Orleans.
Thinking about that reference to the University of Santo Tomas beating heart in the knowledge base reminds me of how Redick became the emotional center for every team he played on. There's a parallel there - like that determined player at Santo Tomas seeing his final chance to leave a mark, Redick approached each season with that same urgency. I particularly loved watching his Philadelphia years, where he averaged 17-20 points per game while shooting over 40% from deep - those numbers feel almost video game-like when you actually stop to consider them.
What the stat sheets can't fully capture is how defenders had to account for Redick from the moment he crossed half court. I recall specific games where his constant movement without the ball would literally exhaust opposing defenders - he'd run them through screens until they were gasping, then pop out for a catch-and-shoot three. His career averages of 12.8 points and 2.0 rebounds might not scream superstar to someone just glancing at basketball reference, but the context matters tremendously. He played in an era where three-point shooting wasn't as prioritized as today, yet he finished with 1,950 career threes - that's more than some Hall of Famers.
The advanced stats reveal even more about his impact. His true shooting percentage consistently hovered around 60%, which is outstanding for a guard, and his offensive rating numbers were typically among the best on his teams. I've always felt that Redick's basketball IQ was underappreciated - you can see it in his low turnover rates despite handling the ball frequently in offensive sets. His playoff performances were particularly impressive to me, maintaining his efficiency while defenses specifically game-planned to stop him.
Comparing his college stats to his professional numbers reveals an interesting evolution. At Duke, he was the unquestioned star, taking 19-20 shots per game, whereas in the NBA he adapted to become an elite role player. That ability to reinvent himself is what I find most impressive about his career trajectory. His 2006 senior year at Duke remains one of my favorite college basketball seasons ever - averaging 26.8 points while shooting 42% from three on high volume is just absurd when you think about it.
Watching Redick age in the league was like witnessing a master craftsman refining his tools. His later years with Philadelphia and New Orleans showed a player who understood exactly how to leverage his skills within team systems. The way he'd use screens became more sophisticated, his footwork sharper, his decision-making quicker. Those final seasons where he averaged around 18 points per game while shooting over 45% from the field demonstrate how he maintained relevance in a changing league.
What the basketball reference page can't show you is the countless hours of film study, the shooting drills before and after practice, the mental preparation that went into each game. Having followed his entire career, I believe Redick's greatest legacy might be how he inspired a generation of players to prioritize shooting development. His stats tell the story of a player who knew his strengths and weaknesses perfectly and built a 15-year career around that self-awareness. In today's analytics-driven NBA, Redick's efficiency numbers look prophetic - he was the prototype for the modern shooting specialist who spaces the floor and makes smart decisions. Looking at his complete career statistics now, they read like a blueprint for how to succeed through specialization and relentless work ethic.
