The Los Angeles Lakers’ front office clearly has confidence in JJ Redick, as evidenced by their decision to hire him as head coach during the offseason. However, the real question remains: will the players share that same level of faith in him?
On the latest episode of “Hoops Tonight,” Jason Timpf expressed his belief that the players will indeed support Redick. He highlighted that the team consists of highly competitive individuals who are eager to win and seek a coach who stands by them.
Timpf suggested that if Redick can demonstrate his commitment to supporting his players, they will “buy in” and rally behind his strategies. The Lakers need a coach they can rely on—someone who believes in their potential and collaborates with them rather than simply directing them.
Redick must quickly establish himself as someone dedicated to improving the Lakers alongside the players and front office. By doing so, he can earn the loyalty of the athletes on the court, which is essential for the team’s success.
A team cannot progress if they do not respect their coach, and once the locker room support is lost, it’s challenging to regain it—an experience Darvin Ham faced firsthand.
Timpf noted that the Lakers never viewed Ham as “one of their foxhole guys,” which hindered his ability to lead effectively. Meanwhile, Redick has the opportunity to leverage his years of experience in the league to connect and communicate with his team.
Although some may question Redick’s coaching experience, this does not preclude his potential for success. His knowledge and engaging personality can serve as valuable tools to forge connections with players and help them regain their focus.