The spotlight in Los Angeles isn't just bright. It's blinding. When you're the Los Angeles Lakers coach, you aren't just drawing plays on a clipboard; you're managing a global brand, two of the greatest players to ever lace them up, and a fan base that views anything less than a parade down Figueroa as a total disaster. Honestly, the hire of JJ Redick felt like a glitch in the matrix for a lot of people. You’ve got a guy who, just months before taking the job, was recording a podcast with LeBron James and calling games on ABC. He had zero—literally zero—coaching experience at the professional or collegiate level.
It's a wild move.
Historically, the Lakers have fluctuated between hiring legendary names and taking flyers on "Lakers family" members. But Redick is different. He's the modern archetype of the "intellectual" hoophead. If you watched Mind the Game, you saw the chemistry. You saw the way he and LeBron dissected the " Spain Pick and Roll" or talked about the nuances of "Zoom" actions. But talking about basketball in a wine-soaked studio is a world away from managing a locker room when you've lost four straight on a road trip in January.
Why the Los Angeles Lakers Coach Position is a Meat Grinder
The turnover rate for this job is honestly kind of staggering. Since Phil Jackson walked away in 2011, the seat has been a revolving door. Mike Brown, Mike D'Antoni, Byron Scott, Luke Walton, Frank Vogel, Darvin Ham. Vogel won a ring in 2020 and was out shortly after. Ham made a Western Conference Finals and didn't survive the next season. The pressure is unique because the timeline is always "now." With LeBron James entering the twilight of his career, the Lakers don't have the luxury of a three-year "learning phase" for a rookie coach.
The front office, led by Rob Pelinka and Jeanie Buss, clearly signaled a shift in philosophy with Redick. They wanted a tactical advantage. They wanted someone who could optimize Anthony Davis, who remains the actual ceiling-setter for this roster.
Most people think the Los Angeles Lakers coach just has to manage LeBron's ego. That’s a surface-level take. LeBron is actually famously coachable if he respects your mind. The real challenge is the "Others." How do you keep Austin Reaves involved? How do you maximize Rui Hachimura’s size? Redick’s challenge isn't the stars; it's the 15th man and the coaching staff he surrounds himself with to compensate for his lack of experience.
The Tactical Shift Under JJ Redick
Watch the tape. You’ll see it. The 2024-2025 Lakers look different than the Darvin Ham era. Under previous regimes, the offense often devolved into "your turn, my turn" isolation ball. Redick has implemented a much more motion-heavy system. It's basically a hybrid of the Golden State Warriors' movement and the Denver Nuggets' precision.
🔗 Read more: Why Funny Fantasy Football Names Actually Win Leagues
Anthony Davis is the hub.
- He's catching the ball at the elbow more than ever.
- The Lakers are running more "Chicago" action (a down screen into a handoff).
- There's a massive emphasis on 3-point volume, something the Lakers have lacked for years.
Redick is obsessed with "math." He knows that if the Lakers are getting outscored by 15 points at the three-point line every night, they have to be perfect everywhere else just to stay close. He’s trying to bridge that gap. But here's the rub: you can design the most beautiful play in the world, but if the personnel isn't hitting shots, the coach is the one who gets blamed. It’s the oldest story in sports.
The LeBron Factor and the "Podcast" Narrative
People love to say LeBron hired his friend. It’s an easy headline. But if you look at the history of LeBron James, he doesn't care about "friends" as much as he cares about "competence." He wants to win. He’s 40. He doesn't have time for a buddy-buddy system that results in a first-round exit.
The relationship between the Los Angeles Lakers coach and LeBron is more like a partnership than a traditional hierarchy. Redick has to challenge LeBron. He has to tell the GOAT when he's taking a play off on defense. That is where most rookie coaches fail. They get star-struck. They get timid.
Reports from the practice facility in El Segundo suggest Redick isn't timid. He's intense. He’s meticulous. He’s the guy who will stop a drill because someone's foot was six inches out of place. That level of detail is what the Lakers were missing during the inconsistent stretches of the last two seasons.
The Anthony Davis Evolution
If Redick succeeds, it will be because he unlocked "DPOY-level" Anthony Davis on a nightly basis. For years, AD has drifted between being a dominant force and a secondary option. Redick’s offense is designed to keep AD engaged. By making him the primary decision-maker at the top of the key, he can't get "lost" in the flow of the game.
💡 You might also like: Heisman Trophy Nominees 2024: The Year the System Almost Broke
This is where the expert nuance comes in. Most casual fans think AD just needs to "be aggressive." Coaches know it’s about spacing. By putting shooters like Dalton Knecht or D'Angelo Russell in specific corners, Redick clears the paint for AD. It’s geometry, basically.
Addressing the Skepticism: Can He Actually Lead?
Let's be real. There are moments where Redick looks like a guy who is learning on the fly. Clock management. Using timeouts to stop runs. Navigating the murky waters of NBA officiating. These are things you only learn through reps.
The coaching staff around him is the safety net. Bringing in Nate McMillan and Scott Brooks—two guys with decades of head coaching experience—was the smartest move Pelinka made. They are the "graybeards" who handle the logistics while Redick focuses on the vision.
The criticism often stems from the idea of "meritocracy." Coaches like Sam Cassell or David Adelman have been grinding for years as assistants. To see a podcaster jump the line... it rubs people the wrong way. But the NBA is a star-driven, "vibe"-driven league. If the players believe in the vision, the resume doesn't matter.
What the Stats Tell Us About the New Era
If you look at the early returns, the Lakers' "Offensive Rating" has seen a jump in efficiency during set plays. They aren't just "playing basketball"; they are executing a system.
- Transition Defense: This was a nightmare last year. Redick has prioritized "punishing" lazy retreats.
- The "Knecht" Effect: Utilizing the rookie Dalton Knecht as a movement shooter has opened up the floor in ways the Lakers haven't seen since the Kentavious Caldwell-Pope days.
- Substitution Patterns: Redick is less rigid than Ham. He’s willing to ride the hot hand, which is a breath of fresh air for fans who were tired of seeing "lineup hockey" where five players swap out at once regardless of the score.
The Verdict on the Lakers Bench
The job of Los Angeles Lakers coach is never truly safe. You’re always one losing streak away from a "What's wrong with the Lakers?" segment on every sports talk show in the country. But JJ Redick has brought a level of modern tactical sophistication that the team has desperately needed.
📖 Related: When Was the MLS Founded? The Chaotic Truth About American Soccer's Rebirth
He’s not just a "player's coach." He’s a "process coach."
Whether that process can survive the grueling 82-game schedule and the ego-driven environment of a playoff series remains the million-dollar question. But for the first time in a long time, the Lakers have a clear identity. They know who they want to be.
Moving Forward: What to Watch For
If you're following the Lakers this season, stop looking at the final score for a second. Watch the first six minutes of the third quarter. That is when the "coaching" shows up. Watch how they come out of halftime. Watch the "ATO" (After Timeout) plays.
If Redick is the real deal, you'll see the Lakers winning the tactical battle even when their shots aren't falling. To really understand the impact of the coach, keep an eye on these specific areas:
- Rotation Consistency: Does Redick find a solid 8-man rotation by the All-Star break, or is he still shuffling the deck?
- Player Development: Watch the growth of Max Christie and Jalen Hood-Schifino. A great coach doesn't just manage stars; he builds the bench.
- Defensive Identity: The Lakers need to be a top-10 defense to contend. Redick's offensive mind is proven, but his defensive schemes are the true litmus test.
The experiment is ongoing. It’s bold, it’s risky, and it’s quintessentially Lakers.