When the Los Angeles Lakers introduced JJ Redick on as head coach final June, a lot of skeptics puzzled if the franchise had misplaced its thoughts. Redick had zero teaching expertise at any stage, but he was being handed the keys to a roster that includes LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
The strain was instant. This is a workforce that measures success in championships, not ethical victories. And then there was the elephant in the room. How would a 41-year-old LeBron James deal with taking a backseat after 20 years of being the point of interest?
So far, James has embraced it. He has allowed Doncic and Reaves to hold extra of the offensive load, and the outcomes converse for themselves. The Lakers are third in the Western Conference with a 46-26 report and just lately rattled off 9 straight wins.
Richard Jefferson backs JJ Redick for NBA Coach of the Year
That type of stretch has folks rethinking what this workforce can do, and it is put Redick’s title into a special dialog.
During a recent segment of the “Road Trippin’ Show,” 2016 NBA champion Richard Jefferson shared why he believes Redick belongs in the Coach of the Year dialogue.
“You look at the injuries at the start of the season, keeping the team in the hunt. Now, all of a sudden, you’re strategizing, and you’re winning games against Denver late, you’re winning in Houston late, you’re going to Miami (and winning),” Jefferson stated.
“Yes, your player performance (is humming), but your team is also having a moment where everyone got healthy, everyone was talking about how the Big 3 couldn’t play together.”
“And JJ, coaching is not just Xs and Os. How do you get one of the greatest players of all time to sacrifice?…How do you manage that? Coaching is not just, ‘Can you draw up a play?’ It’s management of personalities.”
