Stephen A. Smith believes Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick is on track to win an NBA title “in the near future.”
Speaking on ESPN, Smith stated, “I don’t consider it bold at all: JJ Redick is going to win himself a championship one day as a coach in the near future.”
Redick, in his first year as head coach, led the Lakers to a 50-32 record and the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, securing home-court advantage for the opening round.
Smith emphasized Redick’s preparation and focus, saying, “He’s proven to be that exceptional and that locked in and that zeroed in.”
While not predicting a championship run this season, Smith acknowledged that with LeBron James and Luka Doncic healthy, Los Angeles cannot be overlooked against any team except Oklahoma City.
The Lakers will face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round, a matchup Redick called “very difficult” following Sunday’s 109-81 loss in Portland, where multiple starters, including James and Doncic, rested.
Redick cited Minnesota’s two-way strength, noting they’re among just four teams to rank top 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency.
The Timberwolves finished the regular season at 49-33, one game behind the Lakers, and enter the playoffs on a three-game winning streak.
“They’ve played as well as anyone lately,” Redick said. “They present a lot of problems.”
Redick acknowledged that the two teams have only met once since Los Angeles acquired Doncic at the trade deadline, a 111-102 Lakers win.
“We have a general idea of what their rules are, just like they have a general idea of what our rules are,” Redick said, addressing the limited scouting footage between fully healthy lineups.
Preparation for the Timberwolves series began Tuesday, starting with internal film sessions before turning attention to opponent-specific game planning midweek.
Redick credited assistant coach Greg Stiemsma, who was on Phoenix’s staff during their 2024 playoff loss to Minnesota, for providing early insights into the Timberwolves’ tendencies.
“That was literally the first thing he said to me after the game,” Redick said postgame.
Despite resting several players against Portland, the Lakers’ focus remained on playoff readiness rather than the final score.
“We had to play two bigs that haven’t really played together,” Redick said, referring to Christian Koloko and Trey Jemison.
Game 1 between Los Angeles and Minnesota will be hosted at Crypto.com Arena, with the full playoff schedule to be finalized after the Play-In Tournament.
Redick said the team will gradually introduce playoff concepts over the coming days, adding, “It’s not going to be everything at once—we’ll have to slow drip.”
As postseason preparations ramp up, Smith’s public backing further highlights the confidence Redick has earned in league circles during his first season on the sideline.
