J.J. Redick is one of those rare players who seemingly just keeps getting better. Or if not better, not measurably worse. Aside from that forgotten stint in Milwaukee (worse big three ever, Redick Ellis Jennings), he’s been on the upswing his whole career. It’s easier when you start off as slow as he did, so slow that he probably got called a bust multiple times by the 2006 equivalent of DownToBuck, whoever that would be. It also helps to join up with the best PG in the league right around 30 years old, so aging can be hidden with crisp passing.
He’s 34 now, which is old, but not that old for his “white three-point shooter” player type. He’s still canning an elite 200 threes year on elite percentages, which makes him, by rule, elite even at his semi-advanced age.
The 76ers are trying him off the bench so they can forcefeed minutes to their pet project, Markelle Bustltz, which is fine by me. Redick will still get his minutes, and the bust will get to show everyone his mangled shooting form before getting benched in the playoffs because he’s barely playable. Everyone wins! Except for the 76ers in the regular season, at least as much as they should. Their starting lineup looks a little thin on shooting without Redick wandering around out there being elite.