Rich Paul offers his theory on what went wrong with Cam Reddish’s career

Rich Paul offered his perspective on his client’s uneven NBA career Cam Reddish during the latest episode of Game Over with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul, pointing to a combination of mental pressure, draft dynamics and circumstances rather than a lack of talent.

Pavle framed his assessment recalling Reddish’s early scoring ability and physical tools, noting how the offense once came easily to the 6-foot-9 forward. He suggested the first shift happened in college, where Reddish joined a loaded Duke Blue Devils roster alongside future NBA stars Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett.

“I think Cam I watched this kid score the easiest 50 points again,” Paul said. “Me and Mav were together and Mav was like, ‘Damn, that looked easy. 6’9, fluent, but when he got to college, he got there and he was there with RJ and he was there with Zion. So he was like a third guy that could do something to you mentally. Just mentally right? Confidence, our game is 90% talent for everybody.”

Paul went on to describe how the draft process exacerbated those challenges. Reddish entered the 2019 NBA Draft widely projected as a top-five pick, but ultimately fell to No. 10, landing with the Atlanta Hawkswho already selected De’Andre Hunter at No. 4.

“That part happens, then you go to the draft, right?” Paul said. “All this time, this is why I don’t really like mock drafts. You look and you’re supposed to be a top five pick. Well, you’re going 10, not just 10, you’re going 10 to a team that just took a player that’s from your city or from your area that you should have been ranked higher than the four of you, so Hunter was now ranked higher than the four of you. You’ve got two guys playing the same position on the same team, and then they trade you.”

Rich Paul points to the draft slump and early volatility in Cam Reddish’s NBA career

Paul emphasized that some players need more than a chance to stabilize early in their careers, especially amid the constant attrition on the roster.

“Some guys need, given the opportunity, a little TLC,” he said. “They need a little TLC, and the problem with the NBA, or any league for that matter, but especially the NBA, is there’s a draft every year. The higher you go in the draft, the higher the expectations and immediately.”

Reddish’s professional path reflected that instability. During six NBA seasons, the 26-year-old played for the Hawks, New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Lakerswhere he spent two seasons together with LeBron James. In 254 career games, including 116 starts, Reddish is averaging 8.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists and one steal per game while shooting 39.8 percent from the field and 32.2 percent from three-point range in 23.1 minutes per game.

Following his his final NBA season with the Lakers in 2024–25, Reddish continued his career overseaswho most recently played for BC Šiauliai in the Lithuanian Basketball League, as Paul’s comments reframed his trajectory as one shaped by circumstance as much as performance.