"Not looking for him to be a defensive stopper": JJ Redick details vision for D'Angelo Russell this season
After his comments on wanting D'Angelo Russell to have a 'career year', LA Lakers coach JJ Redick shared his plans for the mercurial point guard in his latest post-practice presser. Redick explained that career year is more than just Russel having his best year as a shooter but instead tapping into his skillset that includes leadership and impact on and off the floor.
Redick said that he spoke to Russell regarding his career year and that it's a lot more than just productions and a sharp rise in numbers.
"I think when people hear career year, they think of production," Redick said. "He has a unique skill set. We think he will have a real chance to impact winning. He's done that at different points in his career, and we also feel because of his personality and his voice.
"He can have a real impact in terms of leadership. Defensively, I told him after practice today, I told him I was not looking for him to be a defensive stopper. What I am looking for is a full participant."
While he isn't an enormous defensive presence in the Lakers fold, Russell's 114.3 career defensive rating holds potential and promise. He's usually in the right positions but has been a mix of being pesky and streaky on that end of the floor. But he has been a vital cog on offense and was one of their better 3-point shooters, behind LeBron James, last season.
Redick's plan for D'Angelo Russell suggests that overall development is the approach, so it will be interesting to see if he can unlock that side of the guard this season.
"Gravitated towards that right away": D'Angelo Russell on thoughts about JJ Redick and approach to the game
D'Angelo Russell also complimented JJ Redick on his coaching style and what the former NBA veteran brought to the table.
Speaking on Media Day, he said that he "gravitated" towards what Redick has planned for him this season. Russell said:
“We had a great conversation leading up to and through free agency. I just tried to get his information, reach out to him and create some type of rapport and communication, especially if I was returning back.
"And we just kind of hit it off. I’ve never really connected with him like that, very high IQ guy basketball-wise and personally. I gravitated towards that right away."
The Lakers and JJ Redick will hope that D'Angelo Russell will continue to be a reliable force behind James and Anthony Davis this season. Only time will tell if the guard can reach the level his coach expects him to be at.