"I'm not a zombie"- JJ Redick makes opinion clear after video of slamming chairs over D'Angelo Russell 3 goes viral
JJ Redick cleared the air on the incident that saw him slamming chairs after D'Angelo Russell's clattered 3-pointer against the Memphis Grizzlies in their last game. The clip of the LA Lakers head coach making his emotions clear went viral and the 40-year-old addressed it when speaking to the reporters ahead of the home game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Per Daniel Starkand, Redick said he was not a zombie and expanded further on the opinion.
"I'm not a zombie. That's what we kind of refer to a non-passionate, non-competitive, non-expressive people. I am not a zombie."
JJ Redick also added that his anger and emotions were not directed towards Russell. He said it was directed more at the series of plays for a good two quarters.
Just days after expressing genuine appreciation for the veteran guard's leadership, Lakers coach JJ Redick made the decision to sit him out during the final minutes of the game, visibly frustrated with the Russell's performance.
"He's been one of the most vocal leaders on our team. And that goes back to before training camp on the days he was in the gym," Redick had said, as quoted by Orange County Register. "It's one of the challenges I gave him the first day he came to the gym, and he was using his voice.
"He was energetic and we talked about it afterwards. And I said, 'That's gotta be your standard. That's gotta be who you are every day, regardless if shots are going in or not, or if you get subbed out at the end of a game.'"
D'Angelo Russell vs. Memphis Grizzlies
The Lakers endured a tough 131-114 blowout loss to the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum, with D'Angelo Russell's underwhelming performance playing a significant role in the Purple and Gold's defeat.
In his 22 minutes on the court, Russell managed to hit only 4 of his 12 attempts, struggling especially from beyond the arc with a 2-for-9 showing. Beyond his shooting struggles, however, his questionable shot selection and decision-making allowed the Grizzlies to build and maintain their momentum.