Cam Reddish has earned the trust of Tom Thibodeau

Very clever was the one who during the offseason could predict the role of Cam Reddish, for this 2022/23 season. Arrived during the 2021/22 fiscal year but stopped in his tracks by a right shoulder injury, the former Dukie, by his own admission in early October, was completely in the dark about his use in the Knicks rotation.

Nearly three weeks and ten games later, the 23-year-old winger has the answer to his questions: he is fully part of Tom Thibodeau’s rotation, which gives him nearly 21 minutes per game on average.

” I didn’t really have any expectations [avant la saison] he said on Monday, before the Knicks’ victory on the Wolves floor. ” To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect. But I always worked hard, since I arrived in New York. »

Past holder thanks to his defense

First used as the main rotation on the outside positions, relaying Evan Fournier and RJ Barrett while Quentin Grimes treated his foot at the start of the season, Cam Reddish then joined the major five alongside his former teammate at Duke , then taking the place of the French, weighed down by his defensive limits.

Because it is indeed in defense that the native of Pennsylvania, a natural attacker since always, pleads his cause with “Thibs” since the beginning of the season. With less than 8 points scored on average, he indeed leaves the “scoring” to Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle or RJ Barrett, to try his hand at a defensive specialist role in which he is a pleasant surprise until now.

” It’s a different context than I’ve been used to all my life » he adds. ” But you have to be ready to do anything when you are given an opportunity. As soon as I’m on the pitch, I try to make my presence felt. »

And since the Knicks are doing better, with in particular two good victories in Philadelphia and Minnesota to restart the machine after a series of three defeats in a row (Milwaukee, Cleveland and Atlanta), it’s a safe bet that Tom Thibodeau will continue to bet on the presence of a Cam Reddish more motivated than ever in his major five.

” It’s been a chaotic journey, and I continue to work hard. I don’t feel like I’ve proven anything yet, so every game is an opportunity to prove my worth, on both sides of the pitch he concludes. ” I give everything on the pitch, without thinking about all those things that I can’t control. »