Duke basketball: The 10 greatest NBA Blue Devils of all time
By Matt Giles
All-time top 10 Duke basketball pro: No. 9 JJ Redick
Considering the Pelicans boast five Blue Devils, it’s not too much of a coincidence that No. 9 here is a teammate to No. 10 Brandon Ingram. Though a close call, the reasons for JJ Redick getting the nod are clear: longevity (14-4 advantage in NBA seasons played), team success (13-0 advantage in playoff appearances), and career 3-point percentage (Redick over Ingram, 44.8 to 36.0).
Redick’s birth certificate says he’s 36, but his recent trajectory aligns with guys who are in their prime. After a prolific Duke basketball career, the 6-foot-4 guard struggled out of the gates in the NBA. He was a single-digit scorer in each of his first four years. Compare that to his combined 16.4 points per game the past four seasons, including his career-high 18.1 average in 2018-19.
Yes, the birth certificate would point to an end in sight for Redick’s days as a pro. However, his dietary plan and workout regimen, in combination with what seems to be a reinvigorated spirit as his popularity has again taken off of late, hints that the former Blue Devil legend will add plenty more to his Duke-record 1,884 made NBA 3-pointers (the 14th most in league history).