Drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2000, Michael Redd found himself in a crowded backcourt with established stars Ray Allen and Sam Cassell. As a rookie, Redd had little room to shine on the floor. Yet, Ray Allen quickly became more than just a teammate; he was like a big brother and mentor. “Ray is like my big brother, mentor. He was a major influence in my career and life,” Redd once shared on his podcast. But in 2003, when the Bucks shockingly traded Allen away, Redd was left with one question: “Why did we trade our best player just now?”

In a candid conversation on the Knuckleheads Podcast, Redd revisited those early days in Milwaukee. Redd recounted his initial confusion over Allen’s trade. He couldn’t understand why the team would part with someone as valuable as Jesus Shuttlesworth. Seeking clarity, Redd approached head coach George Karl. The response he received would change his life forever: “I was like, why did we trade our best player just now?” Karl replied, “Because it’s your team now.” That moment hit Redd hard. “I said, wow.”

That exchange was more than just words; it was validation for him. As Redd understood the significance of what Karl was saying because it was incredibly rare for a late second-round pick to be handed the reins of a franchise at that time. But Redd embraced the challenge. In the following season, he grabbed the opportunity, averaging 21.7 points, 5.0 assists, and 2.3 rebounds over a full 82-game season. His performance earned him his first NBA All-Star selection in 2004, marking the beginning of his era as the Bucks’ lead guard.

Unfortunately, despite averaging over 22+ points per game in the next 5 seasons, Redd was never selected for the All-Star game again. Injuries and the Bucks’ struggles as a team dimmed his shining moment. An ACL tear in 2009 nearly ended his career, but he made a comeback with Phoenix in the 2011-2012 season before eventually hanging up his boots.

While he took over from Ray Allen as the team’s star, he never developed bad feelings for the NBA legend.

Michael Redd’s journey from the court to the business world and the influence of Ray Allen

In 2020, Michael Redd shared a heartfelt tribute to Ray Allen on his podcast episode titled ‘Ray Allen: On Playing the Long Game.’ In it, Redd described them as Kobe-Jordan. Kobe once said, “When you see me, you see Mike.” And for Redd, he and Allen are the same: “And I fall in that category a little bit with you with my career.” And then added, “So, you were one of the biggest reasons why I was able to accomplish what I was able to accomplish in my career.”

Beyond basketball, Allen’s influence extended into Redd’s business ventures. In an interview with Boardroom.tv, Redd credited Allen for teaching him the importance of risk in business, adopting the mentality that “you don’t make money without losing money.”

Moreover, Redd revealed that he intentionally sought out relationships with individuals like Ray Allen and Kobe Bryant, who he admired for their excellence. “I always try and surround myself with people who are better than me… smarter than you, so you can raise your level,” Redd explained.

A year after hanging up his sneakers, Redd co-founded TwentyTwo Ventures, where he serves as the CEO. His business acumen has only grown, as he also became a venture partner at Third Wave Digital and joined forces with other investment firms.

“Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.”