Starting 5 premiere instantly reveals what JJ Redick must enforce from day one

When the regular season begins and the Los Angeles Lakers take the floor, LeBron James will make NBA history—again. The 39-year-old will join Vince Carter as the only players to ever reach 22 seasons played in the Association.

Unlike any player who predated him, however, James continues to play at an All-NBA level at an age at which most players have struggled to crack the starting lineup.

As the 2024-25 season nears, James appears ready to continue to defy the standards set by the generations before him. Thankfully for those who are wondering how he does it, a new documentary-style series on Netflix will provide insight into how the four-time NBA champion has defied Father Time—and the challenges facing first-year Lakers head coach JJ Redick.

During the first episode of Netflix's new series Starting 5, James directed an expletive-laced tirade at the Lakers' assistant coaches over the way he was being utilized in more of an off-ball role in 2023-24.

"Yeah, I know. I know y'all got me on [expletive] old-man time percentages and [expletive]. Play eight minutes and [expletive]. Two shots in eight minutes. Just getting cardio. I hate this [expletive] already. This [expletive]'s garbage...I know I'm in better shape than everybody," exclaimed James.

That moment of the show, brief as it was, offered the clearest example of the biggest hurdle and most important task that Redick will face as head coach of the Lakers.

JJ Redick will only succeed if he can bridge the divide with LeBron James

James is a competitor—one of the fiercest in NBA history. His unrivaled longevity is a direct result of how much work he's put in to refine his skill set, take care of his body, and position himself to be as consistently successful as humanly possible.

That type of raw determination rarely goes hand in hand with a mentality that supports accepting fewer minutes or touches—or, as James described it, "Just getting cardio."

Conflating that with a selfish approach would be a leap, as it's simply what often drives the greatest of players. The reality facing Redick, however, is that his first season as an NBA head coach will require him to navigate uncharted territory.

Redick must find a way to involve James in a way that he agrees with, but also preserves his health and stamina for the playoffs—all the while helping the Lakers win enough games to get there.

It's the definitive aspect of what made the Lakers job one of the most polarizing in professional sports. The opportunity to coach James and Anthony Davis was undeniably appealing, but the context of that endeavor only heightens the pressure that already comes with the territory of coaching a franchise that's won 17 championships.

Not only must Redick find a way to help the Lakers live up to the annual expectation of contending, but he must develop the next generation and find the ideal role for James, who has never been anything other than the primary option.

James will still play a massive role in 2024-25, likely continuing to lead the team in field goal attempts and assists, if not usage rate. Davis will become the hub of the offense, however, and that could entail a change in the way that James is utilized.

If Redick is to produce a successful first season at the helm, then the Lakers will need to find a way to incorporate the four-time MVP's preferred style of play while maintaining a sustainable workload within those new parameters.