The Los Angeles Lakers (42-25) haven’t proven anything yet this season, but it’s as good of a start as new head coach JJ Redick could’ve asked for. The team shockingly acquired superstar guard Luka Doncic midseason and sits just one game behind the Denver Nuggets (44-25) and Houston Rockets (44-25) for second place in the Western Conference standings.
Redick was an unusual hire, especially for a high-profile team like the Lakers. The Duke alum had no prior coaching experience other than a volunteer gig with his fourth-grade son’s team at the Brooklyn Basketball Academy, so they took a chance.
However, Redick has asserted himself as an accountable presence in the organization.
An example is when he called the team out for its lackluster performance in its 111-108 loss to the Brooklyn Nets (23-46) on March 10, via The Athletic’s Jovan Buha.
“We just wanted to take shortcuts,” Redick said. “… Just shortcuts. You want to be a good team in the NBA? Want to win? You have to do the hard stuff.”
Redick also didn’t view LeBron James’ (groin) absence as an excuse. Compare this to former head coach Darvin Ham’s quote from Los Angeles’ loss to Brooklyn last season, via Lakers Nation’s Daniel Starkand.
“I’m tired of people living and dying with every single game we play,” he said. “It’s ludicrous. Actually. Like, come on, man. It’s a marathon.”
An example is when he called the team out for its lackluster performance in its 111-108 loss to the Brooklyn Nets (23-46) on March 10, via The Athletic’s Jovan Buha.
“Sources close to the situation say Ham was told by higher-ups that his message was absolutely not the correct one to send, whether that be to his players or to fans,” he reported on Wednesday. “His poor messaging played a considerable role in Ham’s eventual dismissal, and something the Lakers have said publicly they wanted from his replacement was that psycho competitiveness Lakers fans demand from their team.”
Redick’s Lakers host the Nuggets on Wednesday night.
