The Los Angeles Lakers had quite the offseason. They remained as one of the very few teams to not add a player in free agency. They did draft Dalton Knecht and Bronny James in the draft. But many deem that not to be enough if they are to contend for the NBA title. With leading superstar LeBron James in the twilight of his career, the answer might be JJ Redick and his coaching staff.
Spectrum SportsNet’s Mike Bresnahan caught up with the new Lakers head coach at their facilities to talk about his training staff. Redick explained how he is working with his staff to help the team:
It’s been fascinating. Cause you are fitting puzzle pieces together about skill sets and personalities. I couldn’t be happier with the staff we’ve built here. We have a blend of youth and experience. The biggest thing for me is I wanted to make sure I had a bunch of sickos on my staff. And I think I’ve accomplished that.
JJ Redick on Spectrum SportsNet
The Golden State Warriors of the Steve Kerr era revolutionized basketball. It is not that JJ Redick is expected to have a similar impact. However, the very fact that he is using a unique mix of two highly experienced former head coaches along with younger brains suggests something is cooking.
Maybe that is the reason the 4-time NBA champion did a podcast with him in the first place. To figure out his brain and for it to translate to the Los Angeles Lakers later. He can expect Redick and his staff to help players unlock a new level of basketball.
However, Redick has no significant coaching experience. As such, it would be interesting to see how he performs under pressure. Also dealing with huge egos on the Lakers team is going to be another challenge he will have to overcome in his very first season.
JJ Redick not concerned with LeBron James and Anthony Davis’ fitness after Olympic run
Further into the conversation with Mike Bresnahan, the new Los Angeles Lakers head coach was asked if he had any concerns about the fitness of his two most important players. Redick said;
Those guys are professionals in every sense of the word. My concern for them about whether or not they’ll be ready to play on October 22nd and being in shape, I don’t have that concern.
JJ Redick continued
Redick was altogether not concerned about those two stars. They will not have issues with conditioning, especially James as they know their roles on this team.
That is, they have to lead their younger stars into the new NBA season in the hopes of contending for an NBA title. If LeBron James and Anthony Davis show any kind of slack, the rest of the team will most likely feed off it.
Above all, The Lakers have to make the most out of their current team. For that, they have to hit the training camp motivated and ready to take in all that the coaching staff as well as the two leaders have to say. If everything goes to plan, they could end up surprising a lot of people.
In case you missed:
