Cam Reddish has flashed major potential in his first two NBA seasons.
From his defensive instincts to leading the Hawks’ comeback efforts in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals against Milwaukee with six 3-pointers, the pieces are in place for the long, athletic wing to thrive, though injuries and shooting inconsistencies have muddled his first two years. He missed Summer League before his rookie season after undergoing surgery to address a groin injury, and experienced nagging right Achilles soreness last season from late February until returning for Game 2 of the conference finals on June 25.
Entering Year 3, though, Reddish is now 100 percent healthy and ready for training camp.
“I feel great,” Reddish said at Hawks Media Day Monday, ahead of camp’s start on Tuesday. “I’m definitely 100 percent healthy and looking forward to the season.”
Injuries plagued the Hawks last year, and there’s some carryover to this season, with De’Andre Hunter, Kevin Huerter, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Clint Capela not at full-force. That group is still expected to be healthy for the regular season, but it’s a good sign for the Hawks that Reddish is fully healthy and ready to contribute.
After returning to action last postseason, Reddish played well in four playoff game appearances, capping it with 21 points (6-for-7 from 3-point range), one steal, three assists and three rebounds in 29 minutes in Game 6, though the Hawks fell to the eventual NBA champion Bucks 118-107.
Playing in that game was a “boost of confidence,” Reddish said, going into the offseason and now this year.
“I was just blessed to be able to get back out there,” Reddish said. “I was happy to be back. Obviously I was pumped. So, all that combined, it’s kind of the same going into this season. So definitely excited. It should be fun.”
The biggest priority for Reddish is to find some shooting consistency. Reddish shot 26.2% from 3-point range in 26 games played last year (36.5% from the field), and shot 33.2% from 3-point range as a rookie (38.4% from the field) in 58 games played.
“I’ve focused a lot on my jump shot this summer, ball-handling, but finishing, I can definitely improve in that area, as well,” Reddish said. “But I do think for this team, I think my shooting is more the priority.”
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