JJ Redick’s first season as an NBA head coach is now in the books. While many started to give him credit for a job well done in the late stages of this season, some started to hedge on that sentiment as his Los Angeles Lakers were in the process of being knocked out of the first round of the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
After the Lakers’ season ended in Game 5 of that series, the team’s two superstars publicly expressed their confidence in Redick, starting with Luka Doncic.
Doncic came to the Lakers in that monumental trade at the beginning of February. It quickly became clear that he was priority No. 1 as far as not only their offensive execution but also in terms of roster construction.
LeBron James was publicly non-committal about his future following Game 5, although many expect him to play at least one more season with L.A. But he made it clear that he thought Redick did well this season.
Redick, a former sharpshooter who had a 15-year playing career in the NBA, was hired by the team last June. He had previously done a number of podcasts, including the “Mind the Game” podcast, which he co-hosted along with James.
His friendship with James, along with his lack of any coaching experience at either the pro or college levels, caused many to be skeptical about his ability to successfully coach a prominent NBA team.
But he kept the Lakers in one piece all year through multiple slumps and a remodeling of their roster and style of play, not to mention the devastating wildfires in January that destroyed his rental home.
Perhaps the real test of Redick’s coaching ability will come next season, especially if the Lakers field a truly championship-caliber roster. But for now, it is safe to say he has earned a basic level of respect as an NBA head coach.
