JJ Redick, the newly appointed head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, spoke to the media after the team’s first practice session. Redick emphasized the importance of experimenting with various lineups in preparation for the upcoming season.
“There were a lot of guys that had some good moments, to be honest with you,” Redick stated. “It’s just hard to single one guy out. We mixed the lineups a little bit to see different combinations.” With the first preseason game approaching, he noted the urgency to maximize practice time in Los Angeles.
The Lakers will have six preseason games, all on the road, before the regular season begins. Redick mentioned the need to be mindful of how they utilize their roster during this period. “We were able to mix in some lineup stuff,” he added.
Jalen Hood-Schifino and Max Christie received praise for their performances during practice. “Jalen got a shot with the Purple team and played really well,” Redick said. “Max has earned our coaching staff’s trust over the last two months.”
Redick highlighted the standout contributions from both established players and new faces. “Jaxson Hayes, one of the scrimmages was fantastic. And then the usual suspects, you kind of overlook them sometimes, but I thought D’Lo [D’Angelo Russell], AR [Austin Reaves], Rui [Hachimura], LeBron [James], AD [Anthony Davis], all had really good moments as well,” he noted.
Redick shared his vision for the team’s rotation, indicating that he envisions a nine-man rotation for the regular season. “There’s a lot of guys that are going to compete for spots. I’ve always envisioned 9-man rotation in the regular season. There’s definitely some competition for that 9th spot,” he said.
