J.J. Redick is Leading Young New Orleans Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans knew signing a guy like J.J. Redick in the off-season would help the team as much off the court as it would on the court. 

J.J. Redick has an amazing streak going. No, it’s not 3-pointers made or free throw percentage; it’s playoff appearances. Redick has never missed the playoffs since he arrived in the NBA. He is a perfect 13 for 13. After he signed with the New Orleans Pelicans, he was quick to let future star Zion Williamson know just how important that streak was to him.

Redick knew this would be a challenge in the loaded Western Conference. The team would be incorporating four new starters on the roster (three of which would be aged 22 and younger), as well as dealing with the expectations placed on them now that the hype machine known as Zion Williamson was a New Orleans Pelican. Then Zion gets hurt in preseason causing him to miss the first 45 games and let’s just say the season seemed uncertain.

The team was in a tailspin to start the season; at one point they were losers of 13 straight and had an abysmal 6-22 record. This prompted questions about coach Alvin Gentry’s future as well as if it would be worth even playing Zion this year. Being such a young team going through this turmoil no doubt prompted veteran leadership to step up. Enter J.J. Redick.

Redick has never been bashful about speaking his mind. Whether through his podcast, his interaction with teammates, or fielding media questions, Redick has always shown he is about one thing, winning. Recently, Redick was asked in January about the climate in basketball regarding the use of social media. He was rather blunt and had this to say:

Now most know that wasn’t a direct shot at any teammates but instead an overall observation on how social media has dictated so much of our day to day lives. It does however, highlight the mindset a guy like Redick has when it comes to the game of basketball. It cannot be known whether a statement like that has any correlation to the Pelicans 9-6 record since those comments were made. It would point to the fact that a 35-year-old in his 14th NBA season has his priorities in line. That leadership and his example can do nothing but rub off on the younger Pelicans in a positive way.

Redick has done his part with his consistent play. He was brought in to one thing well, and that was shoot the three. He has not disappointed. Redick currently ranks 2nd in the NBA in 3-point percentage at 45.5 percent. He has kept that same professional mindset even after being sent back to the bench upon Zion’s return 11 games ago.

The New Orleans Pelicans have 26 games in order to try to keep Redick’s playoff streak alive. Whether that happens or not remains to be seen. What is happening now is that the young Pelicans are growing up before our very eyes. You can thank J.J. Redick for that.