Atlanta Hawks rookie report card for Cam Reddish.
Cam Reddish had a very up and down season for the Atlanta Hawks. The rookie wing had an incredibly rough start to his career but slowly turned it around, becoming one of the league’s top rookies by year’s end.
Virtually every aspect of his game improved as the season went on, but his lackluster start brought down his season numbers as a whole.
Atlanta Hawks Season Report Card: Cam Reddish
Offensive Grade: B –
Reddish has three-level scoring potential, and it was his perimeter shooting that failed to translate early on. Even in the first few months of the season, he was flashing his athleticism through dunks and acrobatic layups.
He shot just 28 percent from the field in October and November, 21 percent from three. Reddish saw his first improvement in December, shooting 31 percent from deep. Once the calendar flipped to 2020, Cam really turned a corner, posting splits of 44/39/83 in the final 27 games of the season.
Cam should be commended for his confidence, as he continued to shoot through his troubles when other young players often get the yips. His near-disastrous start to the season has to bring his grade down a bit, but he was the team’s best bench scorer down the stretch.
Playmaking Grade: B +
As Cam improved throughout the season, the Hawks’ coaching staff trusted him with the ball more. Although the two guard is closer to a small forward than a point guard, he started a few games at the one this year.
Reddish is sharp with the ball in his hands and does look like a true combo guard in transition. He can read defenses on the move and in isolation. It’s one of the most underrated parts of his game, and you’d have to wonder if a team without Trae Young running point would try to move Cam to point guard full time.
Rebounding Grade: C +
Reddish likes to run in transition and get back on D, limiting his rebounding numbers. No one should judge him on his rebounding, but Reddish can use his otherworldly hops to win some battles if the ball gets tipped out.
Defensive Grade: A –
The one thing Reddish hung his hat on when he couldn’t buy a bucket was his defense and his perimeter D was as advertised coming out of Duke. Reddish is a true ball hawk, consistently looking for steals, and got his way more and more as the season progressed.
He’s a witty, heads-up defensive playmaker off the ball, and solid enough on ball. He has insanely quick feet and hips, allowing him to catch up quickly on the rare occasion a player blows past him.
He and fellow rookie wing De’Andre Hunter should be the future of the Atlanta Hawks’ defense.
Overall Grade: B
What grade would you give Atlanta Hawks rookie Cam Reddish for this season?