JJ Redick is just starting his second season as the Los Angeles Lakers’ head coach, and the jury is still out on whether he’s an above-average coach. Many feel he did a solid job last season as a rookie, but now that the Lakers appear to have a more talented roster, there will be more pressure on him to get the most out of it.
Those who are sympathetic to Redick point to how detailed, prepared and data-driven he and his staff are, as well as his intensity. Those qualities seem to vaguely resemble the ones Pat Riley, the coach of the dynastic 1980s Lakers, had that turned him into a coaching legend.
The franchise reportedly saw Redick as a potential Riley-like coaching prospect when it hired him last year. Reporter Jovan Buha said on a recent episode of “Buha’s Block” that the Lakers still see him as someone who will lead them in excellence for years to come, to the point where he may have some job security (h/t Lakers Daily).
“My understanding of just the whole situation, the whole dynamic, how they view it — they are very high on J.J.,” Buha said. “They were very encouraged by his rookie season even with the early exit against Minnesota.
“And they view him — remember, this was a guy that as we reported at The Athletic, Shams [Charania] and I — they were viewing him as the next Pat Riley. And I think there were some things in that first season that they felt were in line with that. And I think they view him as that Pat Riley, Erik Spoelstra, Steve Kerr, Ty Lue type of franchise coach.
“And I think that’s going to take some time, especially with him being relatively inexperienced and now having more experience but still only entering his second season as a head coach. I think there’s going to be a bit of a learning curve still, a bit of a development process with J.J. as a head coach and a leader.
“I think he’s been ahead of schedule overall, but with the Lakers, it’s championship or bust every single season. So, if they lose in the first round, if they miss the playoffs, if they’re a play-in team, that will fall on J.J.’s feet to some extent. But I don’t think it’s going to be enough to make him or to put him in the hot seat. I think he’s going to be safe for the foreseeable future.
“I also think a big factor here is the relationship with Luka [Doncic]. Luka really likes him. Luka [expletive] with him. It’s just a good dynamic. So, as long as that is still there, and I anticipate it will be, I think J.J. is going to continue to be the coach.”
Redick made a couple of questionable or even bad moves last season, such as playing only five men in the entire second half of Game 4 of the first round of the playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves. But it seems as if he’s cognizant that he has to grow and get better, not just as a tactician but also as a leader of men.
Right now, he will have to guide L.A. to a solid start early in the schedule without LeBron James, who will likely miss the team’s first handful of regular-season games due to sciatica. Doing so while getting the most out of this roster all year long would certainly solidify his image, not just in the eyes of the franchise but also in the eyes of observers across the league.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Insider: Lakers see JJ Redick as elite franchise head coach
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
