The Los Angeles Lakers entered the 2024 NBA offseason with a glaring need to change the culture. Los Angeles was coming off one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history, as a healthy starting five and two All-NBA superstars couldn't prevent a first-round exit that included blown halftime leads during each of the four devastating losses.
The decision to hire JJ Redick was met with inevitable skepticism given the fact that this is his first coaching job above the amateur level, but a recent revelation offers insight into the culture he's introducing.
Reports surfaced early in the search for a new head coach that the Lakers wanted a grinder to lead the locker room. There seemed to be lines to read between, but the productive evaluation simply stated that Los Angeles wanted someone who would work hard and hold others accountable.
In a recent appearance on Spectrum SportsNet's Lakeshow podcast, Redick explained the primary motive behind the construction of his coaching staff: A grinder mentality.
“It’s been fascinating because you’re fitting puzzle pieces together about skill sets and personalities. I couldn’t be happier with the staff that we’ve built here. We have a blend of youth, experience. Obviously Nate and Scotty , but also Bob Beyer, who has been front of the bench for almost two decades in the NBA. The biggest thing for me was I wanted to make sure I had a bunch of sickos on my staff and I think I’ve accomplished that. They’re grinders.”
With a staff of coaches who are obsessed with basketball, Redick is ready to establish the culture in Los Angeles that Rob Pelinka has been looking for.
JJ Redick built a Lakers coaching staff of sickos and grinders
Redick played 15 seasons in the NBA, showing a clear focus on steadily improving and adapting along the way. He was a basketball anomaly in that regard, setting a career-high in scoring during his 13th season—at 34 years of age, on a 51-win team.
It was a clear display of his obsession with the sport that drove him to tweak and improve his craft until Father Time won the battle it never loses.
Redick then showed that same commitment to the sport when he became one of the most revered analysts in the industry. He hosted multiple podcasts and maintained a versatile role with ABC and ESPN, co-hosting early-morning talk shows and providing in-game analysis as a commentator.
During each of those ventures, Redick displayed an attention to detail and a willingness to go above and beyond with his research that inevitably appealed to the Lakers.
It appears as though that approach will remain consistent as he ventures into the coaching realm. He's surrounded himself with individuals who come from every walk of life, no matter their age, experience, or gender.
The consistent thread that bonds the Lakers' coaching staff appears to be a willingness to put in constant work toward the goal of making the team as strong as it can be.
For the skeptics, this is a mere talking point that won't actually prove useful until Los Angeles produces the results expected of them. For fans who have seen the word accountability thrown around by countless Lakers this offseason, however, it appears to be a welcome change of pace.
It's a results-driven industry, but Redick has put together a staff that will leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of proper preparation and the wins that being thorough can achieve.