JJ Redick has been everything the Lakers hoped for since they hired him in June 2024, leading the team to a phenomenal 50 wins each season. Seriously, this guy came in as the 29th head coach in franchise history and straight-up kept Los Angeles out of that brutal play-in territory for two years running, a sight fans saw way too often before he showed up. They’re saying he’s the best coach they’ve had since Phil Jackson left back in 2011, which, let’s be honest, is a massive statement.
His Strengths Are What We Needed
What makes Redick so good? It’s all about his strengths shining through. You see it every game: that high-powered offense is no coincidence, he took over and it just clicked. This proud Duke University alumnus pays insane attention to detail, and you can tell by how structured the team is and how they run their sets. He’s also an amazing communicator, someone who really connects with his players, and that’s why he always has the team’s buy-in. Plus, he’s competitive as heck and has shown he can bounce back from adversity. These aren’t just good traits, man, these are the foundational qualities of a championship coach, plain and simple.
Losing LeBron Changes Everything, Can He Adapt?
But let’s be real, even with all that good stuff, Redick has a TON to prove heading into his third year. The biggest bomb dropped on his plate? He no longer has his former podcast co-host and captain, LeBron James, on his side. Think about that for a second. The dude has only won one playoff series since becoming the Lakers coach, and even worse, the team’s defense has been straight-up below average for the last two years. And this offseason? A major roster overhaul brought in nine new faces. We also can’t forget the criticism from last regular season about overplaying Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, which led to those soft tissue injuries. That’s something he’s gotta fix, fast.
The pressure is absolutely on Redick to deliver at a high level. His best-case scenario is crystal clear: lead the Lakers to a championship. That’s the expectation when you’ve got arguably the toughest coaching job in the league. To even get close, he needs to coach this squad to at least a top-five finish in the Western Conference, assuming they stay healthy. In the playoffs, he has to show he can hang with the absolute best coaches out there. He’s got to figure out how to fill that massive LeBron void and bring out the best in this totally new roster. The challenge is huge, but if he can keep that offense elite and somehow get the defense to above average, then this season could be legendary. We’re all watching to see if he truly has what it takes.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
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