JJ Redick reflects on his first season as the Lakers' head coach
JJ Redick reflects on his first season as the Lakers' head coach
Generally speaking, JJ Redick did a fine job in his first season as the Los Angeles Lakers' head coach. He was hired last June despite not having any experience at either the pro or college levels, and the fact that he was a rookie coach, along with the fact that he had co-hosted the "Mind the Game" podcast with LeBron James, led many to criticize the hiring.
But he kept the team in one piece through several slumps and a revamping of its roster and style of play this season. Los Angeles finished third in the Western Conference, which was a much higher finish than expected, and while it lost in five games in the first round of the NBA playoffs to the Minnesota Timberwolves, its immediate future seems pretty bright.
After Game 5 of the Minnesota series, Redick reflected on his season and also showed a bit of humility when he mentioned what's next for him as a coach.
Via NBA.com:
'I've always felt like a team is a living organism,' he explained. 'And that season, you've got to feed the organism, and you hope that it's healthy. Certainly, every organism has some chronic issues, and you try to address those. Then when you come in after the season, it feels like a funeral. It feels like the death of that organism. In a moment of reflection this morning, I think that's the sad part and the disappointing part. We wanted this group to have an opportunity to play for a championship. We didn't deliver on that.
'As a player, I can remember vividly, a season ending in the playoffs. You get on the plane, flight back, it's quiet. You're writing down everything you want to be better at. That's no different as a coach. That's where my mind goes today, immediately. It's, 'How can I be better?' I'm going to take a lot of time, and thankfully, this offseason I have more time than last offseason to really self-evaluate, listen to my coaching staff, listen to players, listen to feedback from RP (Rob Pelinka) and figure out ways I can be better and ways I can help get us closer to that ultimate goal of hanging Banner 18.'
Redick has brought a new emphasis on detail, organization and data to a Lakers organization that had been criticized for being behind the times when it came to analytics. While it does need a starting-caliber center and better guard and wing depth, it now has a championship-caliber core for the first time since 2021.
In Redick, it also may have a championship-caliber head coach.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
LeBron James Praises Luka Doncic For His Ability To Dictate Game Tempo
LeBron James Praises Luka Doncic For His Ability To Dictate Game Tempo originally appeared on Fadeaway World. Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James had nothing but praise for his running mate Luka Doncic, while discussing his teammate's ability to control the pace of the game. Speaking on the subject on a recent episode of the "Mind The Game" podcast, James said: Advertisement "It's always his pace, and it's always been his pace. It's never been - a game be - 'Okay, you can speed me up. He can speed me up. This bigger guy, he can be more physical, okay. This smaller guy can get up underneath me.' He moves at his own pace. And he's never, ever, been on the floor where he's allowed someone to dictate where they're going to put him on the floor." "For us, we're all working off of that. We just got to stay ready," added James. "Obviously, we've seen throughout his career, there's plays and passes that certain guys in league history have ever been able to make." "And for us, we just have to make sure that we continue to stay ready, especially when you're going against handsy teams, athletic teams, teams that try to speed you up. We always have to keep our head on a swivel... You just never know when the ball may find you." James continued to praise this quality about Doncic as it helped keep opposing defenses on their toes and off balance. Advertisement The pairing of James and Doncic seemed to work almost immediately. Considering the similarities in their approach to the game, the Lakers saw their star duo form a chemistry right off the bat, allowing the Slovenian to assimilate into the team's system seamlessly. The Lakers' season took a turn after Doncic's arrival. The team looked like a different monster as they closed out the regular season. With their 26-year-old superstar recording an average of 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game, the Purple and Gold seemed unstoppable. However, this illusion of supremacy was torn down just as quickly in the first round of the postseason. An early playoff exit exacerbated the roster's shortcomings. But this also helped the team identify the reinforcements they would have to make to ensure that this team could become championship-ready as soon as possible. Advertisement The Lakers' pursuit of a big man, along with other positional upgrades, has been one of the main talking points of the offseason. The general indication has been to construct a team around Doncic, allowing him to raise the overall standard. This approach is also keeping in mind the team's title aspirations. With the likelihood of James returning for Year 23, the Lakers are also in a "win-now" mode. Thus, acquiring players who are battle-tested and ready to compete is also the need of the hour. The offseason implies a lot of major changes in store. As the Lakers' front office continues its work to strengthen the team, and Doncic focuses on his physical conditioning, it will be intriguing to see what James and Doncic can accomplish with a full season in front of them. Related: Luka Doncic On Playing With LeBron James: "He Shows Up Like 10 Hours Before The Game" This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Dominique Wilkins Says LeBron James Is A Sidekick For The Lakers After Luka Doncic Trade
Dominique Wilkins Says LeBron James Is A Sidekick For The Lakers After Luka Doncic Trade originally appeared on Fadeaway World. As a 4x champion, 4x MVP, and 21x All-Star, LeBron James has already proven himself as one of the game's all-time greatest players, and his status as a superstar is undeniable. At 40 years old, however, the situation is changing for James, and he now finds himself in a reduced role in the wake of the Luka Doncic trade that shifted the Lakers' balance of power. Advertisement 'It's definitely Luka's team," said Wilkins in a chat with Kyle Odegard of Esports Insider. "A 25-year-old guy compared to a guy who is 40. You should be willing to hand over those ranks to him. I don't think that's even a question. I think that's what the plan is.' Nobody knew the Lakers were on track to get Doncic at the time, but the news eventually broke after a week of negotiations between Rob Pelinka and Nico Harrison. Wilkins, like the rest of us, was shocked by the deal and believes his arrival in Los Angeles sets them on a path to contention for the next 10+ years. 'Like everybody across the world, I was shocked," said Wilkins. "Luka, 25 years old and one of the top five or six players in the league. You trade a player like that? That's a tough one to digest. Everybody was shocked, and maybe there was something there we don't know. Who knows? But wherever he plays, they are going to be a team that has a chance.' When the Lakers acquired Anthony Davis in 2018, they had plans for him to step up and slowly take the reins of leadership from LeBron. In several years together, however, Davis always played more of a sidekick role while King James ran the show both on the court and in the locker room. Advertisement Now, Luka Doncic will take on those responsibilities, and it means LeBron will have to adjust just like Dwyane Wade did during their days on the Heat. With averages of 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game this past season, LeBron saw a dip in his numbers across the board, and that trend will likely continue as Luka takes full control of the offense next season. At 26 years old and in the prime of his career, Doncic is much more equipped to lead the Lakers daily, just like he led the Mavericks for the first seven years of his career before his shocking trade out of town. As an elite scorer and brilliant passer, Doncic is an ideal choice to run the offense, and his ability to deliver in the clutch makes him an easy choice late in games. At this stage of his career, the best way LeBron can help his team is by maximizing his role as the secondary star and finding a way to make Doncic's life easier, however, he can. It's uncharted territory for King James, who has been the main attraction in each of his previous seasons. Whether he likes it or not, the Lakers are Luka's team now, and all of their planning and team building will revolve around maximizing his game. As someone who just wants to win another championship, LeBron has embraced this new reality, and he's doing everything he can to perfect his new role as quickly as possible. Related: LeBron James Praises Luka Doncic For His Ability To Dictate Game Tempo This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
LeBron Shuts Down The 'No Bag' Talk: "I'm Sitting Here With 50 Billion Points"
LeBron Shuts Down The 'No Bag' Talk: "I'm Sitting Here With 50 Billion Points" originally appeared on Fadeaway World. LeBron James is done listening to people claim he has 'no bag.' On the latest episode of Mind The Game, the all-time NBA scoring king finally addressed the long-running internet narrative questioning his creativity and dribble package. In true LeBron fashion, he didn't raise his voice, he raised the bar. Advertisement "When I was growing up, it wasn't talked about it. The least amount of dribbles to get where you need to get to was what I grew up on." "Michael Jordan wasn't out there dribbling 1,000 times, you know, to get to the spot. He'd get to a spot and raise. Isiah Thomas, as great of a handle that Isiah Thomas had, Isiah would get to a spot and raise." "All these guys that I grew up on, Grant Hill, get to a spot, I'm bigger than you. Big Dog Robinson, I'm bigger than you. Allen Houston, all these great players, that I grew up watching and admiring." "Penny Hardaway, they could dribble the basketball, but there's no... Tracy McGrady, even as great as Tracy's handle was, it was, I'm bigger than you, I'm gonna get to the spot and the least amount of dribbles." Advertisement "Kevin Garnett... Just good footwork, get over the top. If I'm bigger than you and I get you on my shoulder, I get you on my hip, I'm gonna use my size." "I see it all the time. It's like, you know, I'll be on social media, like, LeBron has no bag. LeBron has no bag and I'm sitting over here with 50 billion points." That's not hyperbole. LeBron James has amassed 52,243 career points, a mind-boggling number that includes 42,184 in the regular season and 8,289 in the playoffs. That's over 50,000 points in the NBA alone. Add in his points for Team USA, All-Star Games, the In-Season Tournament, and various exhibition and international games, and the total vaults well beyond the 52K mark. To put it simply, if LeBron has no bag, then basketball doesn't need one. Advertisement What triggered LeBron's subtle roast of the internet critics was a deeper discussion about how offensive basketball was taught and understood in his generation. He pointed out that players he admired growing up like Michael Jordan, Penny Hardaway, Grant Hill, and Tracy McGrady, all emphasized efficiency over flash. He mentioned legends like Allen Houston and 'Big Dog' Glenn Robinson, who dominated their matchups by using size, footwork, and precision, not a flurry of crossovers or highlight-reel ankle breakers. Even someone like Isiah Thomas, known for his handle, played within a framework that emphasized getting to a spot with purpose. In that context, LeBron sees himself not as lacking a bag, but simply operating from a different philosophy. Advertisement The comments are a timely reminder that "bag" talk — especially the internet's obsession with flashy dribbling and aesthetic shot creation — often ignores the actual results. LeBron didn't need to dance with the ball. He bulldozed, he glided, he orchestrated, and he dominated. From post fades to downhill drives, from bullet passes to chase-down blocks, LeBron's game is built on control, versatility, and overwhelming impact. And while social media might be fixated on who has the deepest handle or slickest combo, LeBron is focused on the scoreboard and history. Whether or not someone wants to call it a 'bag,' LeBron's point is simple: the man with over 50,000 points, four championships, and a two-decade run of dominance doesn't need to prove his artistry. He is the canvas. Related: Dominique Wilkins Says LeBron James Is A Sidekick For The Lakers After Luka Doncic Trade This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
