JJ Redick entered his first season as Los Angeles Lakers head coach facing heavy skepticism. As a first-time coach with no prior bench experience, questions loomed about whether he could handle the pressure of leading one of the NBA’s most storied franchises.
Redick quickly silenced critics in the regular season, guiding the Lakers to 50 wins and securing their first guaranteed playoff berth since the 2020 championship run. It was a strong debut—one that showed poise, adaptability, and leadership.
But once the playoffs arrived, the tone shifted.
The Lakers were eliminated in five games by the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Redick’s inexperience showed at times. In Game 4, with the series hanging in the balance, he made no substitutions during the entire second half. Then in Game 5, a too-late shift to small-ball lineups left L.A. scrambling. The result: a quick first-round exit.
JJ Redick Talks About Improving on Rookie Coaching Performance With Los Angeles Lakers
Following the loss, Redick addressed his first season and where he hopes to improve.
“I’ll use my own thoughts to evaluate myself and I’ll use what my players say and what my coaching staff says to evaluate,” Redick told reporters. “But I know I can be better, and I know I will get better. I don’t necessarily take any satisfaction from how the year went.
“That’s not to say I’m not proud of what the group was able to do and how we were able to figure things out on the fly and put ourselves in a position to have home court in the first round, but there’s always ways to get better and I can get a lot better.”
In the end, Redick had a successful rookie season by many measures. Winning 50 games in a tough Western Conference is no small feat. But winning in the postseason is a different beast—one where experience, health, and game-to-game adjustments matter most. Against Minnesota, the Lakers came up short due to all three.
Still, Redick earned respect. LeBron James, whose opinion carries weight in any NBA room, had nothing but praise for his coach following the season.