JJ Redick’s path from doubted hire to proven NBA head coach has been anything but ordinary, and now the Lakers are asking him to steer them into a new era.
Before he ever took over in Los Angeles, Redick had never coached at any level. That reality fueled plenty of skepticism when the Lakers hired him, especially for a franchise built on championship expectations and star power.
Two full seasons later, Redick has quieted a lot of that noise. He’s handled the pressure of coaching Anthony Davis, LeBron James and now Luka Doncic, and he’s done it while establishing himself as a legitimate head coach for the 17-time champions.
The challenge ahead may be his biggest yet. The 2026-27 season marks the start of the post-LeBron era, and the Lakers’ roster has been reshaped around Doncic and rising star Austin Reaves.
Redick, though, appears to be embracing the whole ride. His journey has taken him from being coached by Mike Krzyzewski at Duke to a lengthy NBA playing career and now to running the Lakers from the sideline.
He recently brought that message back home, returning to Roanoke Valley to speak to 500 Roanoke County students and share motivational thoughts about his path, via WBDJ7.
At 42, Redick fits the mold of someone who has kept betting on himself while plenty of people questioned where he might land. In basketball, he’s beaten expectations at nearly every turn, and he’s looking to keep that going in Los Angeles.
Heading into his third season as Lakers head coach, Redick already has 108 wins against 71 losses, a strong early return for a coach who arrived with no experience on the bench.
The Lakers will open the 2026-27 campaign on Oct. 21, when they host Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena.
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Lakers Title Hopes Come With One Big Luka Concern
Trevor Ariza sees plenty to like in Luka Doncic, and he is not shy about the offensive upside the Lakers have with him driving the show. Speaking to Sports Illustrated, the former NBA wing praised Doncics talent and made clear that a player of his caliber can give Los Angeles a real path into the title mix, especially if the front office can put the right pieces around him.
Arizas bigger concern is the other end of the floor, where he believes the Lakers have to get much better if they want to truly contend. He also pointed to the added burden on Doncic now that LeBron James is gone to the 76ers, a change that leaves the Lakers leaning even more heavily on their new star to carry the load while the roster around him still takes shape. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Still Have One Luka Linked Frontcourt Decision To Make
Following his first mini-camp with the Lakers, Luka Doncic sounds encouraged about where this group is headed, and the front office is still sorting through one more possible addition to support that vision. The name in the mix is a familiar one for Doncic: veteran big man Dwight Powell, who spent years alongside him in Dallas and could give Los Angeles another experienced option in the frontcourt.
The Lakers would have to clear a roster spot to make a move, and no official decision has been made yet, which leaves the situation in that familiar offseason holding pattern. For a team trying to build around Doncic while adding enough depth to hold up over the long haul, the Powell question is less about splash and more about fit, familiarity and whether the Lakers decide this is the right time to add another trusted piece. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Fans Just Got A Bigger Reason To Believe In Luka Doncic
Luka Doncic has barely had time to settle in with the Lakers, but the buzz around him keeps growing. The guard already has a reputation as one of the NBAs elite scorers and passers, and now hes getting added validation from former players who know what it takes to win on a big stage. Lance Stephenson even placed Doncic among the greatest point guards, while Trevor Ariza pointed to the kind of ceiling he can give a Lakers team trying to reload fast.
Los Angeles is clearly building with Doncic at the center of it, and the roster moves are starting to reflect that approach. The addition of center Walker Kessler in a sign-and-trade deal is another sign the Lakers are shaping the team around Doncics strengths, with size and structure meant to complement his playmaking. The praise is nice, but what matters most is whether all of these pieces can come together quickly enough to turn belief into something the Lakers can actually use. [Read more 🡒]