Michael Redd returns to Milwaukee as a Sun
Feb 7, 2012, 9:00 PM | Updated: 9:11 pm
Only a handful of players have left as indelible an
impression on the Milwaukee Bucks franchise as Michael
Redd has.
Redd wore the green and red (and at times, purple) of the
Bucks for 11 seasons and trails only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar,
Glenn Robinson and Sidney Moncrief on Milwaukee’s all-time
scoring list.
So it’ll be a little strange for Redd when he takes the
court in the uniform of the Phoenix Suns Tuesday night at
the Bradley Center in Milwaukee to face his former team.
Many Bucks fans are miffed at Redd, who signed a $91
million deal with the Bucks before the 2004-05 season and
then missed 233 games over the next seven seasons.
So not only is Redd dealing with what should be an
interesting homecoming, he’s also continuing to play
himself back into shape after missing the better part of
three years because of devastating knee injuries.
Redd got his first start in over two years in a win over
Charlotte last Saturday, and chipped in with 17 points.
He followed that up with a 10-point performance in the
Suns’ win in Atlanta Monday night and looks to be working
his way into regular minutes in Alvin Gentry’s rotation.
Redd had been signed in time for Milwaukee’s visit to
Phoenix on January 8th, but watched from the bench in
street clothes.
Word is, the Bucks will be paying tribute to Redd via a video montage before the
game.
The Suns will be looking to win three straight for the
first time this season and the first time since late
February last season, when they won four in a row.
Steve Nash is celebrating his 38th birthday, and is doing
so in a way
that few players in league history can relate to.
Nash is leading the league in assists (10.0 per game) and
is shooting a career high .556 from the field. Nash’s
numbers are very similar to the stats he posted in 2004-
05, when he won the first of back-to-back league MVP
awards.
The Suns have owned the rivalry with the Bucks, winning 10
of the last 11 games and are 36-5 in their last 41
contests vs. Milwaukee.
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