A portion of the Los Angeles Lakers community were quick to voice their displeasure with the job that JJ Redick did in the 2025 NBA Playoffs. There were a ton of Darvin Ham comparisons being tossed around as a slight to the rookie head coach.
Did Redick coach the perfect series? No, he certainly did not. Were the frustrations of Lakers fans misplaced? The argument today would be yes they were.
Redick made some questionable decisions throughout the series that quickly earned him some disdain from onlookers. However, the flaws of what the Lakers coach had to work with should have the majority of frustration directed towards Rob Pelinka, not Redick.
Recent NBA news should serve as a healthy reminder that the Lakers are in good hands at the coaching position. Even if it may not feel like it after a premature playoff exit.
Coach of the Year results highlight Redick's potential
The voting results for the NBA's Coach of the Year award were announced on Monday night. Kenny Atkinson of the Cleveland Cavaliers was rewarded for his excellent campaign elevating his team. The Cavaliers head coach won a relatively close race over Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
Lakers fans should not overlook Redick's name on the ballot. The former NBA sharpshooter was rewarded with five third place votes for his efforts leading Los Angeles as the bench boss.
Redick obviously did not come anywhere near winning the award, but being on the ballot alone is an accomplishment here for a 'podcaster.' It should also serve as encouragement that the Lakers franchise chose a candidate capable of leading the franchise forward.
This Lakers season was filled with so many twists and turns along the way. Lesser coaches could have crumbled in far worse ways than a disappointing first-round exit.
Redick was handed largely the same roster that Ham had last season. The rookie coach had them at a better pace than the current Milwaukee Bucks assistant did last year in the same early parts of the season.
The former NBA media personality was then tasked with figuring out a brand-new foundation on the fly after the blockbuster Luka Doncic trade. The Lakers wound up finishing with 50 wins. It was their best regular-season win percentage since the 2019-20 championship team.
Recency bias will always play a factor in evaluations. The NBA is a 'what have you done for me lately' type of league most of the time. However, the fact that discussions about whether Redick's job was safe were existent feels a touch ludicrous.
Jovan Buha and Sam Amick reported this about the Lakers coach last week: "The Lakers are optimistic about his future with the franchise, team sources told The Athletic.”
That should be the overwhelming feeling in Laker land. A short leash is not an approach that helps anyone here.
