Cam Reddish reflected on his time with the New York Knicks, Coach Tom Thibodeau’s favoritism, and the pressure he felt to perform well.
Let’s officially close the Cam Reddish chapter of the New York Knicks fandom. Please.
As a Knick, Reddish averaged 7.4 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in 18.7 minutes while posting .438/.287/.892 splits. He played in just 35 of 72 games for New York in which he was healthy and available. He fell victim to Tom Thibodeau’s rotation change after the blowout loss against the Dallas Mavericks on December 3rd. Then, 33 straight DNP/CDs later, the front office decided it was time to part ways completely.
KFTV’s Alex Trataros detailed the New York-Portland trade involving Cam Reddish and Josh Hart here. So far, as he did with the Knicks, Reddish has shown glimpses of high-level shot creation and active perimeter defense with the Blazers. Though the inconsistencies still remain, at the very least, Head Coach Chauncey Billups is giving Cam constant minutes each night to contribute and grow as a player; a much-needed new opportunity for the former 10th overall pick on his third team in four years.
On March 11th, Stefan Bondy reported on former Knick Cam Reddish’s reflections about his brief stint in New York and how he kept a professional composure despite the sudden benching: “It was tough but at the same time, it ain’t even about basketball…It had nothing to do with basketball. It was all the politics, all the favoritism. S–t like that. That’s why I wasn’t too worried about it.”
The quote comes as no surprise. Thibs definitely plays favorites with guys he trusts, and it is interesting how inconsistent he is when holding players accountable. How often do we see him berate Julius Randle for a missed rotation versus a younger player like Obi Toppin? Why did Alec Burks run the point guard over Immanuel Quickley last year once the Knicks were out of contention?
At the same time, for a coach who thought he would be fired earlier this season, a player like Cam Reddish doesn’t exactly provide a remedy for job insecurity, given his lapses of judgment on shot selection, off-ball defense, and screen navigation.
But to be fair, Thibs benched veterans too, which is surprising because he’s known for trusting established players over the youth (including his favorite player Derrick Rose). Sure, he has a particular type of player he likes (hard-nosed defenders, low turnover rate guards), but every coach does. Politics exist on every basketball team, to some degree.
And honestly, Reddish didn’t play exceptionally enough to warrant a guaranteed rotation spot. So when New York switched to their consistent 9-man rotation and played Deuce McBride over Reddish off the bench, they became one of the league’s best teams. Since December 4th, the Knicks have held the fourth-best win percentage in the NBA with a record of 31-17. And since acquiring Josh Hart, they’ve gone 11-3.
Via Bondy, Reddish also spoke about his pressure to perform in New York: “I can shoot a shot — and in New York, I feel like I HAD to make it…I know I’m not the only person that felt like that.”
We’ve heard about and seen how hard it can be to play for a franchise in New York with the amount of scrutiny the fanbase and media can dish out. But this quote appears to be about Thibs, too. Even when players are hot, the coach will often stick to his ‘template coaching’ (a JD term) and take him out on schedule.
Who else on the current roster might feel the same pressure that Reddish alludes to? Obi Toppin, definitely; his situation warrants its own article. Quentin Grimes sometimes struggles to hit perimeter shots, hurting his chance to close out games over Hart, Quickley, and RJ Barrett. Barrett’s another player who hasn’t met expectations, though he never looks discouraged when he continues to attack on the court.
Cam should have at least played in certain matchups where the Knicks faced a size disadvantage, such as in the four games against the Toronto Raptors. On day one of this season, he proved his two-way potential could raise the ceiling of this New York team. Maybe another coach would’ve successfully made it work. But under Thibs, they’ve simply been better without him, and New York has a real shot at making some playoff noise, too.
Reddish had his opportunity for revenge on March 14th when the Knicks visited Portland. The results went like this:
Poetry writes itself.
By now, everyone should know that the trade was a success for New York. But hopefully, that game will also end the online debates about what Cam Reddish can become as a player or how badly the Knicks misused him. We wish him the best of luck for the rest of his career, but it’s time to move on.
Stay tuned to KnicksFanTV.com for the latest Knicks news, rumors, and recaps throughout the NBA season. And in case you missed it, check out CP’s interview with songwriter and rapper, Skyzoo!
