The NCAA player of the year in 2006, J.J. got off to a slow start last year when injuries caused him to miss a good portion of the season early on. When he finally got a chance to play, he began to show some of the talent that once made him one of the best perimeter shooter in the history of the college game. So effective was Redick from outside the arc in school that during is last year at Duke, the Magic guard broke Curtis Staples NCAA record for career three-pointers. Redick would go on to finish the 2005-06 collegiate season with a total of 139 three-pointers. Last season, for Orlando, Redick started to flashes that picture perfect long distance jumper in February, posting double digit points in four out of five games at the start of the month. By the time the season was over, J.J. had connected on 38 out of 98 three-point tries in only 662 minutes of playing time.

Though some critics still maintain that Redick can’t create his own shot, and that he is at best a liability on defense, the 6-4 guard still stands a good chance to beat out Trevor Ariza, Keith Bogans, and Keyon Dolling for added playing time and a starting spot this season. From what we have seen of the preseason so far, new Magic coach Stan Van Gundy, is taking a serious look at Redick, giving the sharp shooting guard a considerable amount of playing time so far. Though it remains to be seen if such preseason success will transfer over to the regular season, the fact still remains that Redick has been improving with each outing. Those who have seen him perform this preseason would be hard press to call him a draft bust. Far from a bust, J.J. Redick is proving he belongs in the NBA.

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