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Orlando Magic Top 30: The Most Popular Player in Orlando Magic history

By Philip Rossman-Reich

BOSTON, MA - 1994: Dennis Scott #3, Anfernee Hardaway #1, Shaquille O'Neal #32, Nick Anderson #25, and Jeff Turner #31 of the Orlando Magic return to the court during a game played circa 1994 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1994 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - 1994: Dennis Scott #3, Anfernee Hardaway #1, Shaquille O'Neal #32, Nick Anderson #25, and Jeff Turner #31 of the Orlando Magic return to the court during a game played circa 1994 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1994 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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15. J.J. Redick (2007-13)

J.J. Redick was destined to be a popular player wherever he landed so long as he made it. When he was with the Duke Blue Devils, he was a player everyone hated except for the Cameron Crazies. They reveled in the hate directed at their top player.

It was not an easy road for Redick to make it in the NBA. He was struggling to get off the bench and even requested a trade. Otis Smith told him to be patient and the team would see what they could do.

Redick and the Magic’s patience were both rewarded. Redick got his opportunity and never let go of it, growing tremendously as a defensive player and providing the shooting that everyone knew he could from his prolific college days.

Fans loved Redick for his dry humor — no wonder he is an amazing podcast host — and the way he was just a grinder on the court. An offensive grinder, oddly, but someone who just worked hard. It was never a sure thing for him to make it in the NBA. it was a huge task to get there.

When he got there he was truly beloved. When he returned to Orlando with the Milwaukee Bucks, he got a standing ovation. And it was extremely deserved.

Fans still follow and love Redick.

The going theme with a player like Redick is that he was self-made. Sure he had all the advantages of Duke and a reputation to live up to. But he was relegated to the bench and had to work his way into the rotation.

He then played a critical role in the 2009 Finals run after Dwight Howard knocked out Courtney Lee and broke his face during Game 5 of the first round. And Redick never let go, providing a consistent work rate and production the rest of his career to this point.

Nothing to hate about Redick at this point. Unless you are a North Carolina Tar Heel. The Charlotte crowd still boos him.