Here are four things you may not know about new Clippers guard J.J. Redick, who was acquired in July in a three-team trade with the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns.
1. Redick put in more than two months of intense workouts in offseason home of Austin, Texas. “I always feel like you can get better in any area,” he said. “I didn’t like the way I shot the ball in Milwaukee, so I worked really hard on my shooting—threes off the move and off the catch. And also continued to work on my ball-handling and my in-between game—my runners and floaters.”
His workouts included Pilates, Yoga and some preparation for joining Lob City. “Obviously, you look at a situation and you say, ‘What do I need to do to fit in?’ I looked at the Clippers and said, ‘I really need to work on my dunk shots.’”
2. When he makes his team debut, Redick will be one of three Naismith College Players of the Year on the roster, along with Blake Griffin (2009) and Antawn Jamison (1998). Redick won the award in 2006, two years removed from his only Final Four appearance as a collegian. Four years later, Redick’s Orlando Magic team appeared in the NBA Finals. Another former Blue Devil, Shane Battier, is the only other player since the turn of the century to win the award and appear in the Final Four and NBA Finals in his career. Marcus Camby, a former Clippers big man, did so in 1996.
3. His full name is Jonathan Clay Redick. The nickname J.J. was given to him by his twin older sisters, Alyssa and Catie. His first nickname was actually just “J” but the girls would repeat the letter when calling for him and J.J. eventually stuck.
4. Redick is self-described “foodie” and says he likes “everything” when it comes to eating. But he still has some favorites. He says he likes rustic Italian, modern French, good (with an emphasis on good) sushi and, most of all, Carolina BBQ.