“You’re just a dead man walking,” that’s how Charles Barkley saw JJ Redick as a coach for the Los Angeles Lakers. At that time they were a middling team to be fair. However, so much has transpired since then. The Purple and Gold has Luka Doncic. And Redick has used his obsessive basketball brain to make the Lakers a force to reckon with. And the entire NBA world is taking notice.
Redick is only in his first season, but the way he carries himself feels like he has been a coach for a decade. He knows how to read the game and make the adjustments. Moreover, his positive effect on the Lakers has led to their rejuvenation. They play with great energy and creativity. His impact has led to him being a top three COTY candidate in the most recent rankings.
How does that bode for Barkley? “You had Barkley on TV like, man, JJ got to, poor help this dude, he’s going to be fired by the end of the year. Now he’s a coach of the year candidate, you sound silly. Right?” Austin Rivers commented on the situation on Off Guard.
But Redick has done a lot more than just prove that a young coach like him can be great. Rivers feels he has opened up a pathway for other former players to follow in his footsteps. Notably, Pausha feels ESPN’s expert announced and former Warrior Tim Legler would be great at the job.
Mar 8, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick reacts after a technical foul during the fourth quarter of a game against the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
For over two decades, he has called games, a job that came to his doorstep unexpectedly. And Legler has flourished in his role. He has survived ESPN’s cost-cutting initiatives largely because of his eye for detail and ability to articulate complex actions during a game with great ease.
Likewise, Tim Legler has thought about coaching. Notably, he wants to coach one college program in his life. “I think if I go my whole life and don’t get an opportunity to run and coach a Division I college program, I think down the road I’ll regret it because it is the one thing in basketball that is still there for me,” he has said.
Legler has the acumen and the love to study the game deeply. But Rivers in unsure about how he would fair in the NBA.
JJ Redick has something unique in his arsenal
JJ Redick did more than just impress LeBron James with his understanding of the game. His influence has been contagious to the Lakers. Look at the way Austin Reaves has elevated his game under his leadership. Furthermore, the former 76ers guard always has the right words to motivate his players. But why do they follow his command?
Rivers feels a touch of “nostalgia” may be helping. JJ Redick might not be an NBA legend. But he is one of the great shooters. In today’s game, his game is a blueprint for many guys. Moreover, he had great networking across the league when he regularly operated his Old Man and the Three podcast.
Some of the most decorated players appeared on his show. So now even though he is in his first season of coaching, players and coaches treat him with reverence. “Most of these young guys grew up watching JJ. So like there’s still that nostalgia there. And like he carries that and he’s able to relate and understand these players. That’s why it’s working. All right. He also gets along with the best player. They had the pod together. That stuff matters,” Rivers said about Redick’s impact as a coach.
There’s more than just his NBA career that inspires the Lakers’ young core or even senior players like Doncic or James to follow his plans. Redick is very particular about the way he wants to play. It involves great study and watching film, even if he is at a car wash at that. He goes to great lengths to formulate tactics that will yield success.
With that JJ Redick staged an incredible Lakers run which saw them climb to the second seed in the West. Furthermore, even after losing Anthony Davis, the team somehow ranked as the best defensive team. As much as the players’ buy-in is important, it’s a sign that Redick has managed to convert them into believers.
This is surely only the start of his coaching journey. And the NBA world is excited to witness just what the former Duke superstar can produce.
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