Two seasons into his tenure as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, JJ Redick has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that he belongs on the sideline. What looked like a steep climb when he first became this team's coach has turned into one of the most surprisingly polished rebuilds in recent memory. Despite roster limitations and a complicated mix of veterans and newcomers, Redick has found a way to make this Lakers squad perform at a very high level.
As of this writing, the Lakers are 15–5 and sitting in second place in the Western Conference standings. This team is playing with poise and has looked like a cohesive unit rather than a collection of talent. As Redick himself recently noted, there is still plenty of room for bad habits to be corrected and for certain things to improve with this group, which is an encouraging sign.
One of Redick’s biggest wins is how he has redefined roles. He’s shifted the offense so that it moves, players cut, the ball swings, and spacing is used. That makes the most of what the roster offers. Veterans who once looked overburdened now appear comfortable. Young pieces are being integrated without forcing chaos. He predicted a breakout for players like Austin Reaves coming into the season, and so far Reaves has delivered.
JJ Redick has elevated the Lakers in a big way
Defensively, Redick has not pretended the Lakers are a defensive juggernaut. He knows their limitations. Instead, he’s stressed communication, effort, and habits. The team is contesting shots more consistently, hustling for loose balls, and showing better rotations overall. That kind of foundational work builds a culture of winning, especially when the game slows and execution matters most.
The other thing you notice is how Redick handles adversity. Injuries, load management, lineup juggling, all of it can derail a season quickly. But Redick hasn’t flinched. He adjusts, he trusts his system, and he asks players to keep buying in. The stability he offers this club is something it lacked before, and that may end up being the difference between just making the playoffs and contending deep in the postseason.
There are still challenges. The Lakers have had off shooting nights, and maintaining defensive consistency will remain a struggle. But Redick seems unbothered in the grand scheme of things. He’s working with what he’s got, finding value in roles, building habits and staying calm when games don’t go perfectly.
That level-headedness shows why Redick’s coaching brain might be among the sharpest in the league right now. If this continues, the “genius” label will look more earned every night.