Pat Riley and Phil Jackson were the consistent winners, in terms of championships, as head coaches of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Frank Vogel captured an NBA Championship in the 2020 season during the Coronavirus pandemic and Bill Sharman won a championship in 1972, but the Lakers have not had many championship coaches since moving to Los Angeles in 1960.
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J.J. Redick says he’s in a “much better place” after Lakers’ victory over Memphis
Riley and Jackson are top-10 all-time NBA coaches, yet the Lakers have dealt with six names since 2011 that did not propel the illustrious franchise to a Larry O’Brien trophy. J.J. Redick, a former NBA player and Duke University standout, became the latest head coach of the Lakers in June 2024. Many feel the reason behind him getting the job was his podcasting success with LeBron James, but his basketball mind played a critical role behind the Lakers making the playoffs this year as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
Redick navigated a trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Dallas Maverick in acquiring Luka Doncic and turning Austin Reaves into a star. Los Angeles was bounced out the playoffs in a first-round exit by Minnesota, but it finished the regular season with 50 wins (50-32). According to The Athletic, the Lakers have no intentions of firing Redick.
The Lakers are not expected to fire JJ Redick, per @TheAthletic
“The Redick experience was mostly positive, as the Lakers’ ability to earn the No. 3 seed had everything to do with his ability to connect with his players while showcasing his tactical acumen. Despite the early… pic.twitter.com/zaW2KAcpaV
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 2, 2025
JJ Redick is unabashedly himself, for better or worse.
After the Lakers were eliminated from the postseason, Redick reflected on his season and acknowledged that he still has a lot of room for improvement as a coach. pic.twitter.com/cBvFEO1iju
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) May 3, 2025
Per the article, the Redick experience was ‘mostly positive’ and the Lakers’ ability to earn the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference playoffs ‘had everything to with his ability to connect with players while showcasing his tactical acumen.’
Redick also shows transparency in areas where he need to be better.
He will use this experience to better himself and the team moving forward.
Stephen M. Smith is a writer for Ball Exclusives. You can follow him him X via @CoachingMSmith.
