Suns get big contribution from Redd in win

There was a bit of a ripple around the league when the Phoenix Suns
signed free agent veteran guard Michael Redd to a contract in late
December.

After all, Redd had been an NBA All-Star, a member of the gold medal-
winning U.S. Olympic team at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, and a
career 20-point per game scorer.

Redd had seen his career nearly ended by two devastating left knee
injuries that limited him to just 61 games over a three-year period.

Redd’s early production in Phoenix didn’t exactly inspire confidence that
he was all the way back from those injuries. After scoring 12 points in
his Suns debut during a loss to Cleveland on January 12, Redd’s
numbers dropped off. He’d score just 21 points over his next 8
appearances, and racked up 4 DNPs during that stretch.

But Saturday, a new opportunity presented itself to Redd, and the veteran
responded. Jared Dudley sat out the game with a thigh bruise, and Redd
got his first start in a Phoenix uniform, and his first since December 21,
2009.

In a season-high 23 minutes, Redd scored 17 points, including 4-of-7
shooting from three-point range in the Suns’ 95-89 win over the
Charlotte Bobcats.

“One of the proudest moments of my career,” Redd said in the aftermath
of the win. “To come back through the tears, through the hurt, through
the hours of rehab and training, to come back and accomplish this is
maybe the proudest moment of my career, actually.”

Head coach Alvin Gentry didn’t have to look far to find a valid reason to
start the slick-shooting lefty veteran. “You know, Grant (Hill) is so much
better as a starter than coming off and trying to get warmed up again, so
I just thought hey, let’s give Michael a shot, and playing him early on
after he’s gotten himself loose and warmed up would work, and he shot
the ball well and played well I thought.”

Redd’s 17 points were the most he’d had in an NBA game since he
pumped in 24 for the Milwaukee Bucks on January 8, 2010, just two days
before he’d tear the ACL and MCL in his left knee once again.

“It was great that Coach (Gentry) had confidence in me enough to start,”
Redd said. “I know we have outstanding wings here, so it was an honor
and a proud moment, coming back from knee surgery twice, and I’m just
grateful that they believed in me enough to do that.”

Redd had four of the Suns’ ten treys on the night — just the third time
all season they’ve had ten or more makes from behind the arc. Last
season, Phoenix accomplished that 31 times.

Arizona Sports’ Charlie Feinerman contributed to this report

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