November 19, 2007

Hornets.com will be interviewing visiting players throughout the 2007-08 regular season during their trips to New Orleans, as part of our 1-on-1 feature. On Monday, we talked to Orlando guard J.J. Redick, asking the second-year pro from Duke about the Blue Devils’ hopes in 2007-08, the holidays, poetry and several other topics.

Hornets.com: How are you feeling about how the season is going so far?
Redick: Obviously, we’ve gotten off to a great start and we’re really excited about where we are. We continue to improve every game and I think early on, that’s what you have to do. I think this team learned from last year’s start. We were 13-4 and were the toast of the town – but it’s a long season.

Hornets.com: How do you feel about Duke’s chances this year?
Redick: I like Duke’s team this year. They have a lot of depth and a lot of talent. I think the players that were on last year’s team are going to be hungry after what happened last year. It was a down year for them.

Hornets.com: Do you miss playing basketball at the collegiate level?
Redick: Yes and no. The only thing I miss about college basketball are the people at Duke. My teammates, obviously, the coaches and the fans, the secretaries – everybody. Duke was a special place for me. (But) I wouldn’t want to go back and play college basketball.

Hornets.com: What are some of the improvements you made this summer on the court?
Redick: It was a productive summer for me. I worked out a ton. I worked on a lot of different stuff, particularly offensively. It’s all about sharpening your skills. I tried to add a couple of things to my game and be in great shape.

Hornets.com: The holidays are coming up. What is your favorite tradition?
Redick: Thanksgiving is right up there with Christmas for me. I love Thanksgiving. For us in the Redick household, we would always sit around the table right before we ate and go around and tell each other what we’re thankful for. I have a family of criers so it always became this 30-minute emotional shindig. I won’t be with my family this year, so I’m going to miss that.

Hornets.com: What was the best Christmas present you ever received?
Redick: My best Christmas present ever was something I got last year. My mom gave me a picture of my granddad when he was 19 and had just enlisted in the Air Force. It has all of his World War II medals in it. He was a bomber pilot.

Hornets.com: Do you have a favorite Christmas song?
Redick: Silent Night is my favorite.

Hornets.com: The media has often asked you about the poetry you’ve written in the past. Is that still something you get a chance to do?
Redick: Absolutely. I actually wrote a little bit on the plane last night. I started writing poetry in eighth grade when my grandfather died. My mom was very close with him and seeing her go through that – it was tough on me because I’m very close with my mom. My first poem I ever wrote was about my grandfather’s death.

Hornets.com: Where do you pull your inspiration from when you write?
Redick: I’m always looking for inspiration. I think I’m inspired by my peers, other athletes – most of the time I’m inspired by my family. They have a huge impact on me – my parents and my brothers and sisters.

Hornets.com: Being that it’s a show based around basketball, has anyone ever told you that you look like James Lafferty from One Tree Hill?
Redick: I actually met him – he’s a really good guy. I was supposed to be on the show, because his character was supposed to play basketball at Duke, but I didn’t get to do it. I get told a lot that I look like Freddie Prinze Jr., but I don’t see it.