Atlanta Hawks forward Cam Reddish went through the ups and downs of a rookie season in the NBA. The ex-Duke Blue Devil started off slowly, however, began finding his groove in the second half.
Reddish averaged 5.8 points on 25.3 percent shooting through his first 11 games. Those numbers improved to where he averaged 14.6 points on 47.0 percent shooting in his final 21 games.
His overall game improved as the season progressed, specifically 41.7 percent from three-point range in those final 21 contests.
When did Reddick find the light switch and flip it on?
The first step is usually pinpointing where’s the problem. Reddick had to make the necessary adjustments which come with becoming a pro.
“It’s pretty hectic, and the adjustment was a little crazy,” Reddish told Sarah K. Spencer of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “But that was one of the biggest things I picked up on, how long the season was. I had to really take care of my body, eat the right things, stuff like that. … My entire life, I could pretty much just get up and go. And just play. But it’s a really long season.The games are long, you’ve got back-to-backs, you’re going from Miami to L.A., L.A. to Minnesota, it’s craziness. But it’s fun, once you get used to it, once you figure out your routine.”
Reddish was the 10th overall pick in the 2019 draft. The Hawks posted a 20-47 record in a season currently suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the team showed improvement, going 12-15 in its last 27 games.
Reddish projects to play a key role in Atlanta’s future. With a routine in place, and an offensive game showing signs of life, the 6-foot-8 Reddick wants to continue improving on the defensive side of the ball.
General manager Travis Schlenk praised Reddish’s defensive efforts in April, per Spencer:
“What he allows us to do defensively, just with his length and athleticism and anticipation is going to be really important to us in the future. He’s got a chance to be one of the best defensive players in the league. … His defensive versatility, being able to guard quicker point guards and kind of cover Trae (Young) on that end is going to be extremely important to us moving forward.”
Reddish showed signs early on he has what it takes to become one of the league’s best defensive players. He acknowledged to Spencer he “has a knack for it” and now has a clear-cut goal in mind.
“I definitely want to be known as one of the best two-way players,” Reddish said.
Atlanta has formed a young core with Reddish, Trae Young, De’Andre Hunter, John Collins, and Kevin Huerter.
Reddish now has a season under his belt and has identified a healthy routine that works for him. His game has grown on both sides of the court.
That’s a good sign for the Hawks as they look to turn heads next season.
