Cam Reddish Rips Knicks & Thibodeau: "Politics...Favoritism"


Cam Reddish spent the last 33 games of his New York Knicks career nailed to the bench: DNP-CD in each and every one of them. Now he's opening up about his time in the Big Apple, and he's not holding anything back. 

Reddish spoke with Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News, and talked about the frustrations of not being given a chance by head coach Tom Thibodeau and the Knicks.

 It was tough but at the same time, it ain’t even about basketball, It had nothing to do with basketball. It was all the politics, all the favoritism. S--t like that...

The way I was being dealt with, the way I was being treated, I didn't think I was going to get an opportunity (for a trade). So I was happy and appreciative.

Was there really a rift with Thibodeau?

"I never really talked to Thibs like that. I don't know. And I don't really care. I'm here (in Portland) now. I'm trying to put that in the past." 

The former lottery pick has stepped right into the Portland Trail Blazers rotation after the deadline day trade, even starting 10 of his 12 games. He's averaging 30 minutes per game (exactly 30 more than he'd averaged in New York for the past two months), scoring 13.8 points, adding 3.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists. 

The rust from inactivity hasn't affected his long-range shooting either, as he's hitting threes at a 38.2% clip with Portland. 

"I'm in a completely different place. Now I'm blessed. Not everybody gets another opportunity so it's refreshing," said Reddish, who was the 10th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. "I got some great teammates. Great staff. It's real positive around here. Win, lose or draw. It's not somebody beating you over your head - not that that was happening in New York - but it's more my style.

"The more I'm on the court, the more I'm going to grow and play. I'm happy."

Photo: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports