Lakers head coach JJ Redick was not pleased with his team’s effort on Wednesday night, and he let them know it.
JJ Redick, known for his sharp analysis and unrelenting candor, didn’t mince words after the Lakers’ 131-114 collapse against the Memphis Grizzlies. A night that should have been an early-season checkpoint turned into a glaring exposé of effort—or the lack thereof. Standing at the center of it all, one man remained a constant: LeBron James. Nearing 40, James played with the urgency of a rookie chasing a dream, leaving it all on the court as his teammates faltered.
Redick, visibly frustrated, didn’t shower the team with false praise. He acknowledged LeBron’s resolve, marveling at his relentless energy. But when asked how he’d address his players, Redick’s response was brief, almost curt, before he abruptly left the podium.
“I think LeBron was fantastic tonight. The biggest thing that stood out… he played hard. He’s almost 40 years old and he played the hardest on our team. It says a lot about him,” Reddick said. He was then asked to discuss how he could address the effort of his players with the team. Reddick said, “I just did,” dropped the mic and left the press conference.
TV analyst JJ Reddick would’ve criticized this move by the Lakers head coach https://t.co/MzDDfvoFlM
— 17-4Szn (@jpet82) November 7, 2024
What began as a promising 3-0 start to the season has unraveled into a sobering reality. A 1-4 road trip has dragged the Lakers back to .500, and a palpable tension has replaced the optimism that once filled the locker room.
This wasn’t just a loss—it was a reckoning. Redick’s frustration boiled over, not because of tactical missteps or strategic flaws, but because of a fundamental shortcoming: effort. For a franchise steeped in history, where banners symbolize greatness, Redick’s challenge to his team was clear. Talent alone won’t sustain them.
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LeBron Needs More Help
Their 39-year-old cornerstone, LeBron James, played with the most urgency, again.
In the absence of Anthony Davis, James delivered a vintage performance: 39 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and a steal on 15-of-24 shooting, including 6-of-11 from beyond the arc. But his effort wasn’t enough. The Lakers, shorthanded and searching, couldn’t rally around their leader.
D’Angelo Russell, a starter, found himself benched late. His stat line—12 points, one rebound, three assists—told part of the story, but the inefficiency loomed larger: 4-of-12 from the field, just 2-of-9 from deep.
Postgame, head coach JJ Redick addressed the decision to sit Russell, offering a blunt assessment of the guard’s performance.
“Just level of compete, attention to detail, some of the things we’ve talked with him about for a couple of weeks,” Redick told reporters when asked about Russell’s fourth-quarter benching. “And at times, he’s been really good with that stuff, and other times, it’s just reverting back to certain habits. It wasn’t like a punishment. I just felt like for us to have a chance to win this game, that was the route we wanted to take.”
For Redick, it’s clear that effort and execution must match the standard set by their aging superstar. The Lakers find themselves at a crossroads, where accountability isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a necessity.
