JJ Redick’s inaugural season as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers has been marked by notable success, attributed not only to his rapport with LeBron James and the team but also to his unique persona and respected insights. Despite pre-season skepticism surrounding his hiring, fueled by his podcast partnership with James, Redick has demonstrably earned his position. His profound understanding of basketball and his ability to unlock player potential have resonated deeply within the Lakers organization.
Redick’s unwavering dedication to the game has particularly impressed James, fostering a strong bond between the two. This mutual respect was humorously highlighted when LeBron referred to Redick as a “dkhead,” albeit in an affectionate context.
LeBron James On Los Angeles Lakers Coach JJ Redick
“He’s just a podcaster that, for some odd reason, became a coach because of me! Nah, I think, one thing about JJ, man, he breathes the game. And he breathes the game of basketball every single day,” James explained during an interview on The Pat McAfee Show. “If we lose a game or we don’t play up to par, there’s no such thing as sleeping at night. There’s no such thing as sleeping until the next match, until the next game. He’s a dkhead, and I love it.”
Effective NBA coaches are often characterized by their ability to deliver candid assessments to their teams. Redick has displayed this quality throughout the season, connecting with the Lakers through his evident passion for the sport, as James observed. Adding to their connection is James’s long-standing rivalry with Duke University, Redick’s alma mater.
“When I was a kid, I used to watch Duke. Now I realize I hated Duke when I was growing up. Then when I got a little older and I started playing with Coach K [Mike Krzyzewski], I played with him for Team USA, I was like, ‘Okay, I see why he is great. I see why I hated JJ Redick. I see why I hated Shane Battier,” James admitted. “Then Shane came over to us in Miami and helped us win a championship. I was like, “I see it. These are like the greatest guys/d**kheads you’ll ever meet.”
James even drew parallels between Mike Krzyzewski’s coaching style and Redick’s, suggesting that Redick’s presence on the Lakers’ sideline is a natural fit. While Redick’s coaching prowess may not be universally acknowledged by the media, he has unequivocally earned LeBron James’s endorsement, even amidst playful jabs.