JJ Redick Delivers on Bold Promise in First Season as Lakers Head Coach
In a stunning debut campaign, JJ Redick has provided exactly what he promised: 50 wins and the No.3 seed in the Western Conference. According to Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, Redick set that goal from day one, and the team rallied behind his vision all season long.
“He talked about when he got hired, his goal was to get 50 wins and the third seed,” Hachimura said. “It’s a big accomplishment.”
Remember when they said JJ Redick wouldn’t survive as a head coach in LA… WHO’S LAUGHING NOW?! 🤣
50-WIN SEASON AND A DIVISION TITLE IN HIS FIRST YEAR AS A COACH AT ANY LEVEL.
WE ARE WITNESSING A LEGEND IN THE MAKING 💯 pic.twitter.com/lDjgZT93qU
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) April 12, 2025
Redick’s rookie campaign
Redick, in his first year as an NBA head coach, took the reins of a Lakers squad with sky-high expectations.
Many questioned how a first-time head coach would manage the stakes and personalities of leading a franchise headlined by LeBron James and, initially, Anthony Davis, especially knowing how the previous hire of first-time head coach Darvin Ham worked out.
Redick’s ability to blend great communication and basketball IQ–earned from his previous 15 seasons as a player in the NBA–with modern analytics has more than earned the trust of the locker room.
That trust and overall buy-in are on display on the court, as the team has made monumental strides in terms of defensive tenacity, ball movement, and overall consistency.
Furthermore, the obvious turning point of the season came when the Lakers made a jaw-dropping trade for Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic.
Looking past the incredible value that LA got in that deal, the fact remains that trading away Anthony Davis–a superstar that the entire locker room was close with–was a bold and controversial move.
However, the deal immediately paid off and dramatically changed both the current and long-term outlook of the Lakers.
Doncic has transformed the Lakers’ offense, providing a generational scorer and playmaker to pair with LeBron. His clutch performances down the stretch were key to securing the No.3 seed.
Redick reconstructing the offense
Redick has excelled at restructuring the offense to highlight Doncic’s strengths while compensating for the noticeable void at center. The revamped perimeter-oriented system perfectly suits Luka’s game and enables center Jaxson Hayes to thrive in creative schemes that minimize his defensive shortcomings.
Redick, with LeBron and Luka leading the way, is now rolling into the playoffs with serious momentum. His initial goals may have actually undersold the team’s potential, as the Lakers could make serious noise in the playoffs.
