The Los Angeles Lakers surprised the basketball world this offseason when they hired JJ Redick as the new head coach. The announcement sent shockwaves across the league, even though superstar LeBron James was in agreement. However, criticisms quickly followed with even NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal himself expressing discontent.
Now, O’Neal has predicted a difficult start to life for Redick and the Lakers team next season. The Hall of Famer appeared recently on the Pat McAfee Show. He then shared his thoughts on how the future is looking for the franchise.
As stated by Shaquille O’Neal, coaching the Lakers would not be an easy job for JJ Redick. He pointed out that there are players on the roster who may not fall in line, given the latter’s inexperience as a coach. O’Neal then aimed a subtle dig at LeBron James, insinuating that the franchise is run by him. He added that while James and Anthony Davis will try to keep everybody in order, Redick’s success depends on all the players having his back.
I think personally, they are gonna have a rough start. And what I mean by that, you know as a coach, it’s all about respect. So, if I’m a guy that has played seven, eight years and I’m getting a young coach who I think I was a better player than, it’s gonna be a level of disrespect there.
Shaquille O’Neal said
Shaq then gave his own example of playing under coaches like Phil Jackson and Pat Rodgers. The Hall of Famer explained the trust he had in these coaches allowed him to listen to them considering their championship resume.
As they rebuild, the Lakers will look to start the new 2024-25 season on a positive note. This means all eyes will be on the new HC and what happens under his watch.
JJ Redick and Shaquille O’Neal once agreed over LeBron James’ leadership
LeBron James has gained his ‘superstar’ status due to his incredible talent from a young age. The Lakers forward dominated even before he played pro basketball. Both O’Neal and Redick have witnessed this up close themselves. Shaq has played with James, while Redick shares a friendship with the player.
Given that James has played 21 seasons in the league, the new coach praised him during an appearance on Shaq’s podcast. Redick talked about the maintained intensity in his game while O’Neal praised James’ leadership. Shaq also reflected on the 4-time NBA champion’s impact when they were teammates at the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The praise certainly speaks volumes coming from the 15-time All-Star himself. Now, James will have a real chance to help Redick with his leadership skills for the next season. It will be interesting to see how their partnership works out on the court for the Los Angeles Lakers.
