JJ Redick, the first-year head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, faced difficult questions after his team was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Lakers’ 103-96 loss in Game 5 ended their season and marked another early exit for Los Angeles.
During the postgame press conference, Redick was asked about his decision not to make more substitutions in the crucial fourth quarter, a question that sparked his visible frustration.
“We executed great in the fourth quarter,” Redick responded. “We missed shots at the rim, missed a bunch of threes. Shot 12-for-52 for the series in the fourth quarter from three. On top of that, you lose two games in Minnesota, minus-12 in scoring opportunities, minus-13, and then you lose by 20 tonight.” Redick’s comments were reflective of his team’s inability to capitalize on scoring chances, despite getting good looks throughout the game.
Redick, who was pressed on his decision to stick with a small-ball lineup that was dominated in the paint, walked out of the media session after bristling at the implication that he failed to lean on his assistants during critical in-game moments.
The tension peaked after Redick responded, “Do you think I don’t talk to my assistants about substitutions every single timeout?”
“As do I. Every single time. That’s a weird assumption” before standing up and leaving.
When pressed further about his choices, Redick pointed out the difficulties of managing a roster with multiple high-profile players, including LeBron James and Luka Doncic. The Lakers acquired Doncic midseason, but the team’s chemistry remained a work in progress. “We played 13 games with our playoff rotation in the regular season. Bron and Luka obviously played more than that together, but these things take time,” Redick said. “Luka just went through it in Dallas with Kyrie, and it doesn’t happen overnight.”
Redick admitted that the team’s chemistry, especially in clutch moments, could have been better. “That part of it, we could figure out better, and we were, I guess, in a better place and more comfortable with that in the fourth quarters of playoff games. But that partnership and that relationship is more than solid,” he explained, referring to James and Doncic.
Despite the tough loss, Redick’s tone was one of both disappointment and gratitude. He praised the Timberwolves for their performance but acknowledged his team’s struggles. “Give Minnesota a lot of credit. They’re a really good basketball team,” Redick said. “I think our guys played hard enough and did all the right things. We tried to make it work with what we had and came up a little short.”
A key moment in the game was Doncic’s performance despite battling a back issue. Redick was asked about his star player’s condition. “I assume it’s tight. I don’t know. I know he could play. Obviously, he had some good stretches there in the second half scoring the basketball,” Redick shared.
Reflecting on his first season as head coach, Redick noted his desire for growth. “I know I can be better, and I know I will get better,” he said. “I don’t necessarily take any satisfaction from how the year went. That’s not to say I’m not proud of what the group was able to do… But there’s always ways to get better, and I can get a lot better.”
The Lakers were ousted in the first round for the second consecutive season, despite finishing as the third seed in the Western Conference. Redick’s comments shed light on the challenges he faced in his first year at the helm, including managing high-profile players and adjusting to a new roster midseason.
As for the Lakers’ future, Redick acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding his team’s core and the next steps for the organization. With James and Doncic leading the way, the Lakers are left to reflect on a season that fell short of expectations.
