Michael Redd

Michael Redd
Name	Michael Redd
Birth date	24 December 1979
Birth place	Columbus, Ohio
Height	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight	205 lb (93 kg)
Position	Shooting guard
College	Milwaukee Panthers (University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee)
Nba draft	2000 / Round: 2 / Pick: 43 overall / Selected by the Milwaukee Bucks
Career start	2000
Career end	2013
Teams	Milwaukee Bucks (2000–2011); Phoenix Suns (2011–2012); Cleveland Cavaliers (2012–2013)

Michael Redd (born December 24, 1979) is an American former professional basketball player who starred as a shooting guard in the National Basketball Association from 2000 to 2013. Known for his prolific three-point shooting, scoring ability, and clutch performances, he was the centerpiece of the Milwaukee Bucks offense in the mid-2000s and represented the United States men's national basketball team at major international competitions. Redd's career includes an All-Star selection, Olympic gold, and franchise scoring milestones.

Early life and high school

Redd was born in Columbus, Ohio and raised in a family with deep roots in the region, attending Brookhaven High School before transferring to Northland High School. During his high school tenure he played alongside notable prospects and competed against regional programs such as St. Vincent–St. Mary, the alma mater of LeBron James, and faced teams coached by figures associated with Ohio prep powerhouses. Redd's senior seasons featured matchups in statewide tournaments and exposure to college scouts from institutions including Ohio State University, University of Cincinnati, University of Kentucky, and University of Michigan. He committed to continue his career at Milwaukee where he joined the Panthers under head coach Bruce Pearl.

College career

At Milwaukee Panthers (1997–2000) Redd developed into a high-scoring guard within the Horizon League (then Mid-Continent Conference/now Horizon League) competition, competing against programs like Cleveland State University and Butler University. He earned conference honors and national attention for scoring outbursts that drew comparisons to established scorers from Big Ten Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference programs. Redd declared for the 2000 NBA draft after his junior season, entering the draft class that included Kenyon Martin, Stromile Swift, and Eddy Curry. Selected 43rd overall by the Milwaukee Bucks, he made the transition from collegiate scorer to professional role player under the Bucks' coaching staff led by George Karl.

Professional career

Redd's early NBA seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks (2000–2011) saw him evolve from reserve minutes to starting shooting guard, joining teammates such as Ray Allen (later), Glenn Robinson, Sam Cassell, and later pairing offensively with Andrew Bogut. Under coaches including George Karl and Scott Skiles, Redd led the franchise in scoring during the 2003–04 and 2004–05 seasons and had career-high performances that placed him among the league's elite shooters alongside contemporaries Reggie Miller, Dirk Nowitzki, Ray Allen, and Peja Stojaković. In 2004–05 he was selected to the NBA All-Star Game, joining players like Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, and Tim Duncan on the East roster. Redd's 57-point game against the Denver Nuggets in 2006 established a franchise single-game scoring benchmark alongside performances by Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant in league lore. Injuries, including a significant knee setback, limited later seasons; he was traded to the Phoenix Suns in 2011, where he contributed in the backcourt with players such as Steve Nash, and later signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 2012–13 season, reuniting regionally with LeBron James-era Cavaliers personnel before opting for retirement.

USA Basketball and international play

Redd represented the United States men's national basketball team in international competition, most notably as a member of the gold medal-winning squad at the 2008 Beijing Olympics coached by Mike Krzyzewski. That roster featured stars including LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, and Kobe Bryant, with Redd providing perimeter shooting in the team’s run through the tournament. He also participated in USA Basketball training camps and exhibition tours against national teams from Spain, Argentina, Lithuania, and Greece, contributing to the reassertion of USA Basketball dominance following earlier international results.

Playing style and skills

Redd's skill set centered on catch-and-shoot proficiency, off-the-dribble three-point shooting, and mid-range scoring, drawing stylistic parallels to elite shooters such as Ray Allen and Reggie Miller. At 6 ft 6 in he combined length with ballhandling and footwork cultivated at Milwaukee, enabling him to create separation against defenders like Manu Ginóbili, Tony Parker, and Dwyane Wade. Defensively he was considered average to below-average, often matched up against perimeter scorers in schemes devised by coaches like Tom Thibodeau and Scott Skiles. Redd’s conditioning and recovery after knee surgery became focal points late in his career as he adapted playing time and role on teams such as the Phoenix Suns and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Personal life

Redd is a native of Columbus, Ohio and has maintained ties to the area through charitable work and youth basketball programs that partnered with organizations including NBA Cares and local foundations. He has been involved in community initiatives alongside teammates and fellow alumni such as Ray Allen and Andrew Bogut, and has participated in celebrity charity events associated with figures like Magic Johnson and Charles Barkley. Off the court, Redd has navigated family life and post-retirement endeavors that include mentoring prospects, basketball clinics, and occasional commentary within media outlets that cover the National Basketball Association.

Legacy and honors

Redd's legacy includes franchise records and recognition such as an NBA All-Star Game selection (2004–05), an Olympic gold medal (2008), and inclusion in conversations about the NBA's premier shooters of the 2000s alongside Ray Allen, Reggie Miller, Peja Stojaković, and Dirk Nowitzki. His scoring outbursts and contributions to the Milwaukee Bucks established benchmarks later referenced by players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and franchise historians. Honors at the collegiate level include All-Conference accolades with the Milwaukee Panthers and later acknowledgement by the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee athletic department. Redd remains cited in analyses of shooting evolution in the NBA era that preceded the three-point revolution led by teams such as the Golden State Warriors.

Category:1979 births Category:Living people Category:American men's basketball players Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States in basketball Category:Milwaukee Bucks players Category:Phoenix Suns players Category:Cleveland Cavaliers players