JJ Redick excited about Lakers' 'responsiveness', while LeBron James makes diplomatic assessment of 10-game sample size
The JJ Redick era for the LA Lakers is 10 games deep into the season. As things stand, the Lakers are 6-4. It has been an up-and-down run with some major highlights and extreme lowlights in this initial stretch of coach Redick's debut stint. However, one thing seems certain, and that's the buy-in from the Lakers that the first-year coach has, including that of LeBron James.
When murmurs first started of Redick potentially taking on the job, all the way until he signed on the dotted line to become the new coach of the Lakers, there were doubts consistently placed on Redick's ability to win the locker room trust.
NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal, who had just done a podcast interview with Redick a few months before he was hired, had his reservations about the level of respect Redick might get in the locker room.
"I think personally, they're gonna have a rough start. And what I mean by that, you know as a coach, it's all about respect, and if I'm a guy that's played seven, eight years and I'm getting a young coach who I think I was a better player than, there's gonna be a level of no disrespect there."
O'Neal also shut down Redick's comparisons to a young Pat Riley. He called Redick a "nice guy" and believed there would be fights if he "yelled" in the locker room.
Here's an excerpt from former LA Clippers guard Lou Williams well before Redick's hire, who shared the same sentiment as O'Neal did months later.
"There is no chance that JJ Redick is going to be able to command that locker room. Yeah, him and LeBron can sit there, drink wine together, and break down plays, but it's a little different when you got 20,000 people screaming at you, and you have 11 other players that you have to manage as well," said Williams on the 'Run it Back' podcast on May 6.
Like these two former players, NBA fans and critics shared similar takes and echoed the same doubts about Redick. But it seems clear that the rookie coach, who came in with no experience, or maybe some after volunteering as a head coach of his nine-year-old son's team at Brooklyn Basketball Academy, has struck a rapport with his players.
Ten games in, JJ Redick hasn't hesitated to reportedly break clipboards, display animated reactions, let out a few "F-bombs" and call out his players for not performing and making bold lineup decisions, all while ensuring the players' respect and trust in him.
D'Angelo Russell is a prime example of it. After Redick had limited Russell to 22 minutes in a 131-114 loss on Wednesday and called him out, he moved the veteran guard to a bench role, which he seemingly accepted. Russell claimed he had bought into what the team was doing and expressed his commitment to contributing in any way he could.
On Sunday, after game no. 10 of his young coaching career, one of JJ Redick's highlights thus far included the same talk about trust and responsiveness from his players. Here's what Redick said after Sportskeeda's Mark Medina asked him about his comfort level with the team's progress with a 10-game sample:
"The thing that's promising is that whether it's a day in between games, and it's a film session, a practice where we need to work on some things and clean some things up. A halftime adjustment, a carryover from shootaround, things we emphasize, they're really, really responsive. I think there's a trust building with each other as players and the trust that's building between the players and the staff."
The Lakers have been organized, and there's a level of attention to detail that makes them look like a different team when they execute Redick and the staff's plans to a tee. When they don't, they suffer, and the four losses are symbolic of that.
Nevertheless, the Lakers have acted on their struggles from last year. Former coach Darvin Ham emphasized putting the ball in Anthony Davis' hands and making him a hub. But he never efficiently did that, leaving LeBron James to shoulder a significant burden.
JJ Redick emphasized the same, but the execution has been top-notch. Davis is averaging 31.2 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.0 blocks, shooting 57.7%. He has the highest usage rate of any player on the team (31.2%).
Meanwhile, LeBron's workload has been managed with Redick using Austin Reaves as an alternate to Davis more than the four-time MVP.
LeBron James remains diplomatic after 10 games under JJ Redick's coaching
LeBron James wasn't willing to comment about the Lakers' 10-game sample size under JJ Redick. He maintained a rather diplomatic stance and seemingly wanted to take things game-by-game.
"I'm not giving sample sizes," LeBron said. "We play well tonight and we play again on Wednesday against the team that just beat us not too long ago, so we need to be ready for what they bring to the table Wednesday."
LeBron was referring to the Memphis Grizzlies, who the Lakers face again after a blowout loss a week ago. The 39-year-old isn't looking too far ahead, knowing that everything can change in a moment after 22 years of experience in the NBA.
LeBron, individually, had a slow start and has yet to entirely find his rhythm. Despite an up-and-down run, he's averaged 23.2 points, 7.7 rebounds and 8.9 assists. Despite a near 4.0% lesser usage rate, he's sixth in the NBA in assists. LeBron has shot 51.5%, including a career-high 44.4% from 3 on 5.4 attempts.
He's had two back-to-back triple-doubles, too. The Lakers need LeBron James to find his legs amid a sluggish start. The role players haven't stepped up, and LA has evident issues regarding its depth with a misfiring bench and inconsistent production from key rotation players like Rui Hachimura and D'Angelo Russell.