“Just prior to training camp, each Magic player was tested in eight different categories ranging from bench press, vertical leap, 3-minute run, agility and three-quarter-court sprints.”

For the first time JJ won this contest showing everyone what kind of improvement he has been working on since he joined the Magic.

Now we see that improvement in his game where he has become one of Head Coach Stan Van Gundy’s most trusted players. Not only had his shot improved, but his overall game has improved as well.

JJ has become a very good overall team player helping out his teammates on the court with more then just his shooting.

See how he handles this award with his own special humor in this interview:

http://www.nba.com/magic/video/2009/11/07/…9842/index.html

We at duke-redick.com are very happy for JJ and hope that he continues to improve his game.

This article from Fanhouse written by Tim Polvak says it all about the kind of season that JJ has had so far this year. Plus it includes an interview with JJ.

J.J. Redick Finally Carving His Niche

ORLANDO — After three seasons of banging his head against a wall, J.J. Redick finally has proven he belongs in the NBA.

He never thought it would take this long.

Redick may have come into the league as one of the most celebrated college basketball players in recent history, but it has taken a complete remaking of his game and his attitude to finally carve his niche.

“I’ve been thinking about it recently, and maybe I wasn’t ready to do this last year, or my second year, and certainly not as a rookie,” Redick said Friday night after helping the Orlando Magic hold off the Detroit Pistons 110-103. “I could not have stepped in and played well like this, but I’ve learned how to be a pro. And that wasn’t easy.”

Redick, now in his fourth season with the Magic after playing four years at Duke University, has used the start of this 2009-10 season and an injury to starter Vince Carter to solidify his role on a legitimate championship contender.

And around the league, they have noticed.

In six games – four as a starter – Redick has played consistently well, averaging 14.7 points, three rebounds and three assists in 32.5 minutes per game. Instead of being the hot-shooting bomber that most remember from his college days, he has become a heady, steady player, something he struggled to learn in his first few years in the NBA.

He doesn’t do turnovers. He plays good team defense. And he helps the offense work better by moving the ball and finding the open man instead of finding his shot.

“For most guys in this league, it’s about being in the right situation at the right time. You hate to have a teammate go down to give you a chance, but you have to be ready, and that’s something I’ve learned,” he said. “I think I’ve taken advantage of this opportunity. I’ve played well. I’ve put myself in a position where I can succeed now.”

Carter will return soon from his sprained ankle. Rashard Lewis will come back next week from that 10-game suspension. And when they do, the playing time for Redick will shrink considerably, putting him back into a reserve role with inconsistent minutes because the Magic are so deep.

Yet Redick now knows what he can do, and where he can fit. In the first few years, when he got brief opportunities, he failed to sustain them. He never averaged more than six points or 1.1 assists, in part because his playing time was so sporadic.

In the AP they are ranked 9th and the ESPN/USAToday they are ranked 8th.

This Duke team is different then other Duke teams, because the focus is going to be more on their big men then on their guards.  Coach K made a special effort on recruiting big men this past off season.  The reason was that Duke was hurt in this area too many times and it showed up the most in the NCAA’s.

This time the Blue Devils will not be caught lacking powerful big men who can bang the boards as well as shoot the ball from the outside. This is a Duke team that will once it finds it’s footing will push a lot of people around.  Finally a Duke team with a kind of balance that has not been seen in a very long time.

We at Duke-Redick.com see a team that is going places this year and for the foreseeable future.

Now if he can improve on what he did last year then all of this hype fits. The sky is the limit for him.

The article below is from GoDuke.

“Singler Named to AP Preseason All-America Team
11/02/2009

DURHAM, N.C. - Junior Kyle Singler, the preseason ACC Player of the Year, was named to the Associated Press’ preseason All-America team on Monday. Notre Dame’s Luke Harangody, Kansas teammates Cole Aldrich and Sherron Collins and Kentucky’s Patrick Patterson joined Singler on the team.

Singler is coming off a sophomore campaign in which he averaged 16.5 points and 7.7 rebounds per game while garnering second team All-ACC and honorable mention AP All-America honors. The Medford, Ore., native also claimed ACC All-Tournament team accolades after helping guide Duke to its eighth conference championship in the last 11 years.

Singler has reached double figures in scoring in 59 of 71 career games played and ranks 53rd at Duke with 1,060 career points. Last season, he became just the sixth player in school history to top the 1,000-point plateau as a sophomore.

Harangody was the top vote-getter with 57 votes from the 65-member national media panel, while Aldrich and Collins are the first teammates chosen to the preseason team since Duke’s J.J. Redick and Shelden Williams in 2005-06.”

http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_…TCLID=204826240

http://bostoncollege.scout.com/2/915556.html

In his third game this season JJ is showing everyone that his shot his back.

JJ has got game!!

WTG JJ and the Orlando Magic!

Now comes the hard part the regular season, but after watching this team meld together they look like the team to beat. Yahoo Sports has predicted that this team will go all the way and I have to concur after watching them destroy the Hawks in their last preseason game.

Redick did not shoot great, but he still averaged 10.5 points this preseason. Plus he was one of the assist leaders on the Magic in the preseason as well.

Head Coach SVG has said that JJ will be the backup to Vince Carter at SG this upcoming season. Plus Stan noted that JJ is one of the best perimeter defenders on this team along side Pietrus.

JJ has evolved into a great role player instead of just a shooter. After watching him play this preseason we here at Duke-Redick.com believe that JJ has turned the corner and should look forward to a great season and a repeat of the Magic going to the finals. This time the Magic win it all.

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The Orlando Magic are ready for prime time after letting go of a couple of players who helped them get to the finals they added players who this time around should get them past everyone and win the Finals this year around. Players like Vince Carter and Ryan Anderson both traded from the Nets. They also picked up Brandon Bass from Dallas and Rick Barnes from Phoenix. Plus they added crafty veteran Jason Williams. All of these pieces equal a team that is even better then last years version.

With all of this JJ Redick is having a great pre-season averaging 12 points and several assists a game and has shown that yes he did improve his game from last year just as he had promised. JJ has worked hard on getting his shot as well as being a floor general for the Magic when on the court. We see great promise for JJ this year with hopefully added playing time as Vince Carters back up as SVG announced as pre-season began.

From the people at JJ Redick and Duke Basketball Fansite we wish the best of luck to JJ Redick and the Orlando Magic.

Best of luck as well to the Duke Blue Devils who we see playing better this year then last.

It has been a while since I updated information on JJ.

This information is not basketball related, but it is big news when it comes to Mister JJ Redick.

As of late June Jonathan Clay Redick and Chelsea Kilgore became engaged.

That’s right all you female fans of our one and only JJ. He is no longer available in that way, but he is when it comes to the action on the court.

JJ is still with the Magic who have reloaded for this up coming season which starts in one month.

This off season the Magic have made several changes first they got Vince Carter and Ryan Anderson from the Nets the Magic only to give up Alston, Battie and Lee (who will be missed). This was done since the Magic knew they were not going to keep Hedo (who has since left to Toronto).

Otis also was able to pick up a true PF in Brandon Bass a FA from Dallas. Otis was able to do this, because Dallas thought they had picked up Gortat after signing him to an offer sheet that they thought the Magic would not match. Well Otis fooled all of them and he matched that offer sheet and pulled a Bass right under their nose.

To top all of this off he also ended up with something for Hedo after it looked like the Magic could get nothing. Through a S&T with the Raptors with Dallas and Memphis involved with the Magic Hedo was sent to Toronto and the Magic ended up with some cash and a huge TE worth between 7-8 million to the Magic.

So now the Magic need to find a few more players and this team is set for a repeat run to the finals.

Several players will be getting new team numbers including it seems  JJ Redick getting back his old number 4.  We all hope that him wearing  his old number will give him a great season.

WTG Magic and good luck for next season.