J.J. Redick vs. Trajan Langdon Tonight
On one hand, tonight’s game between the Orlando Magic and Russian Euroleague powerhouse CSKA Moscow is David Stern‘s wet dream. Basketball fans from Florida to Siberia will tune in to see an otherwise meaningless preseason game.
But this game is not just must-see TV for Euroleague fans. For everyone who has screamed at their television in white-hot hatred of the Duke Blue Devils, tonight’s game might be the only time that you can see both J.J. Redick and Trajan Langdon on the floor at the same time.
On the day that both of these guys left Duke, who would have said that they would be facing each other for the first time as professionals in this preseason game? Though Langdon, “The Alaskan Assassin” has been out of the public eye since his Duke days, he has had a successful pro career in Russia, where he’s coming off a year in which he was named the MVP of the Euroleague Finals. And J.J., well he’s still waiting to get off of Stan Van Gundy‘s bench.
While these guys go after each other for the crown of the best Duke shooter who hasn’t really made it, Duke haters everywhere can point and laugh.
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October 10th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Gmoney says:
first…
when these guys were making it rain, you can’t really say, that you saw their careers being where they are. I will say that the magic need to give him some minutes so he can either show people he’s got a pulse, or prove everyone right for writing him off…
October 10th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Dime Magazine says:
Gmoney -
You can’t really kill Trajan’s career. The guy is a superstar overseas and gets paid like one. I think it’s worked out pretty well for him.
- PC
October 10th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Da Chi 23/33 says:
Ummmm who can’t say they didn’t see it coming! Anyone who saw the athletic UCONN guards shut Langdon down in the title game or how LSU ‘s athletes gave Reddick hell, had to know that they were gonna have trouble in the L. But at least Langdon had a chance to try and fail in the NBA, Reddick hasn’t played since the ACC tournament it seems. They might both be great if NC State becomes an NBA team, but not before!
October 10th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
dagwaller says:
I didn’t really see where Gmoney killed Trajan’s career…
October 10th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Dime Magazine says:
dagwaller –
I took the part where he mentions that this isn’t how they saw their careers panning out as meaning that for Trajan, playing in Europe was never what he envisioned as a successful career. You’re right though, “kill” is a strong word to use there.
- PC
October 10th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Andy says:
Trajan literally makes millions in Russia…and he doesnt pay taxes on those millions.
October 10th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Meica says:
While I’m glad to see a guy take an opportunity and milk it for all it’s worth (an MVP of any Finals has got to feel pretty sweet), I bet if you were to ask Trajan if this is where he envisioned his basketball career he would definitely have some disappointment.
Here’s the real debate for the NBA players defecting to the Euroleague though: as a basketball player is it better to play for a team that means nothing to your family and friends, yet play often and well, or make it to the NBA and have the whole country know your name, but waste away on the bench? I think the same thing could be said of the D-League. While it’s pretty obvious that most players in either the D-League or the Euroleagues ultimate goal would be to make their way to the NBA, as a person who loves to play basketball is it more noble to play unrecognized by your peers while getting lots of minutes, or to tough it out on the bench as a role player in the NBA representing the lowest tier of the upper echelon of the sport? After all, even the worst of the best is still, well, the best.
Your thoughts?
October 10th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
BALLZ says:
Ok, so neither of these guys is a star in the one and only L, but they are both college All-Americans who are getting paid millions to hoop. Damn I wish I was that big of a failure. Did anyone who actually watches the NBA predict stardom for either of them?
October 10th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
yallallreadyknow says:
can either of these dukie bums even dribble?
October 10th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Brandon Hoffman says:
If JJ’s career doesn’t turn around, this may not be the first of many JJ-Trajan matchups…
October 10th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Brandon Hoffman says:
* If JJ’s career doesn’t turn around, this may be the first of many JJ-Trajan matchups…
October 10th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Jason says:
Dime hatred towards Duke is getting kind of gay. I’m not a Duke fan but they seem obsessed. They could write an article like this on any college team. Have some creativity already Dime.
October 10th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Mike says:
I BETCHA EVERYONE THAT’S HATING ETIHER
1) LIVES AT HOME
2) PLAYED BALL IN HIGHSCHOOL
3) HAD THEIR TEAMS DESTROYED BY A DUKE SQUAD
4) OR JUST HAS NOTHING BETTER TO DO THEN HATE!!!
October 10th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
MoxWestCoastRep says:
How is dime hating on Duke?
It looked like pc was defending langdon’s career.
Now dime hating the Lakers….that might be true! Ha ha ha
October 10th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
funkalot says:
It is not hate to say that jj and trajan were over hyped and underperforming players, who happen to be Dukies. It is simply stating the truth.
It is not their fault though. They did not campaign through the media, creating unrealistic expectations. That was ESPN and Dick Vitale. Look, the league requires special skill sets and although they can both shoot, neither handles well or is a capable defender. So, their careers are where they should be, bordering on mediocre.
October 10th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
Andy says:
Sorry but Duke is what is right about college basketball
Team basketball, players graduating, great coaching
October 19th, 2008 at 12:45 am
Raven's View says:
The ignorance and stupidity of certain moronic pundits is always both astounding and depressing. Concerning the Trajan – JJ piece:
1) UConn defense – Trajan had 25 and was the only Duke player to step up. No other teammate scored above his season average – Brand passed as he always has, poorly or not at all.
2) Career college three-point percentage: Trajan – 42.1; JJ – 40.5.
3) Trajan’s career NBA high is 31 with 6-6 on three-point shooting. Very few have ever had a better night.
4) Defense – no two on Orlando scored on Trajan, he blocked JJs jumper, and he outplayed Anthony Parker in Toronto just as he did in the Euroleague Championship game in 2006. He is now an outstanding defender who regularly shuts down both 2s and 3s in both the Euroleague and Russian League.
Grow and learn something before you pop off mindlessly. Most American commentators are PATHETIC!
The Raven