In many eyes, the Los Angeles Lakers will go as far as JJ Redick empowers LeBron James to lead them. It's truthfully an oversimplification of what will help Los Angeles realize its potential, but positioning James to succeed will be essential nonetheless.
As the general public debates what type of role James could play at 40 years of age, Redick has clarified what it would mean to utilize him in an off-ball capacity.
James is coming off of yet another All-NBA season and a summer in which he led Team USA to an Olympic gold medal. Father Time has won every war he's ever waged, but James continues to defy the odds and redefine the general understanding of the limits of longevity.
In an interview with Zach Lowe on The Lowe Post, Redick explained how he plans to utilize the soon-to-be 40-year-old James—defining what an off-ball role would entail.
"I think when people hear that, in regards to LeBron playing off the ball, it doesn't mean he's not going to have the ball. LeBron is one of the smartest players, and I think using him as a screener and finding ways to get him the ball in specific spots on the floor where he can be a facilitator and a scorer, that's what I mean by being off the ball. I don't mean LeBron's going to walk the ball up and get ball pressured at 94 feet and he's going to run the pick and roll every time. That's what I mean. That's not how we're going to play."
It's a crucial distinction for those who are wondering how James would function in an off-ball role after spending decades as an on-ball force of nature.
LeBron James will see more balance on offense in 2024-25
James finished the 2023-24 regular season with averages of 25.7 points, 8.3 assists, 7.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 2.1 three-point field goals made per game. He shot a career-best 41.0 percent from beyond the arc, eclipsing the 40.0 percent threshold for the first time since 2012-13.
In a testament to how he could thrive in an off-ball capacity, James knocked down an absurd 47.3 percent of his catch-and-shoot threes during the 2023-24 campaign.
James struggled with pull-ups, making 34.5 percent of his attempts overall and 33.6 percent of his shots from beyond the arc. He remains one of the most prolific finishers in the NBA, however, after shooting 59.8 percent on drives and ranking No. 10 in points in the paint in 2023-24.
True as that may be, the volume has decreased in terms of his interior production, and that trend is likely to continue as he enters his 40s.
Redick has thus been tasked with creating a role for James that highlights his strengths and masks his weaknesses. That will likely include off-ball action that enables the four-time MVP to get to his spots and exploit mismatches in a switch-heavy NBA.
It will also entail giving James the ball and trusting him to create for others, as he's done for 21 legendary seasons.
Exaggerated sentiments acknowledged, the nuance in how James is utilized will go a long way toward determining how far the Lakers go in 2024-25. Anthony Davis has been prioritized as the hub of the offense, but James will maintain a high usage rate and a crucial role throughout every game Los Angeles plays.
Redick understanding that utilizing James in an off-ball role doesn't mean removing him from the environment in which he's been known to thrive is a promising sign for what could transpire in 2024-25.