JJ Redick has had an incredibly successful early run as the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. Redick was hired ahead of the 2024-25 season, and at that time, the Lakers had just one 50-win season since 2010-11 and one season finishing top six in the Western Conference since 2011-12.
Now, in two seasons, Redick has finished with 50-plus wins twice and in the top four of the conference twice, despite significant turbulence in both campaigns. Redick has yet to win a playoff series as a head coach — and is not favored to do so against the Houston Rockets because of injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves — but he is undoubtedly a strong coach. And he discussed how he’s grown from Year 1 to Year 2.
“It was fine. You can always get better at some stuff, that’s the beauty of this job and this profession,” Redick said after the season finale. “I actually was thinking about it today on my drive in, I’m just so excited for this week and I’m just so excited for this series, because there are things I’ve learned over the past two regular seasons and one playoff series that I’m excited about for this upcoming stretch. There’s going to be another opportunity to grow, another opportunity that will test me. That perpetual growth opportunity is the beauty of this.”
Redick has always made it clear how much he loves doing this job, especially when it comes to all the gritty details of it that many people don’t think about. The week of preparation between the end of the regular season and the start of a playoff series might sound daunting to some, but he is genuinely excited for it.
Last year’s playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves did not go well for Redick, or anyone on the Lakers. But it provided him with plenty of lessons that he can hopefully bring into this series, even if Doncic and Reaves won’t be a part of it.
Deandre Ayton thinks Lakers-Rockets will be physical
Lakers center Deandre Ayton reflected on the team’s two recent wins in Houston, describing them as playoff-atmosphere games. But his biggest takeaway is the physicality of the Rockets, and he’s looking forward to that in the playoffs.
“They’ve been known as a physical team from since I gotten into the league,” Ayton added. “It’s something that they play hard and they play physical, and that’s the fun part about the postseason. The physicality turns up a little bit, and they let us play and I like that. Good to get a little anger out.”
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