On Media Day, JJ Redick jokingly threatened rookie Zion Williamson not to – ahem – “mess up” Redick’s flawless streak of reaching the playoffs for 13 consecutive pro seasons. Nine months later, however, when New Orleans players recently touched base to talk about the NBA’s restart, Redick made it clear that while a playoff berth is still a goal, he won’t view it as catastrophic if it doesn’t happen. Too many other things have occurred in the wider world since Pelicans training camp in the fall.
“When we discussed what we wanted to do, whether we wanted to play (in Orlando), I made it very clear that my playoff streak is insignificant in the grand scheme of things,” Redick said Friday, alluding to the ongoing pandemic and civil unrest in America.