From the moment JJ Redick took the reins as the Lakers' head coach, the comparisons to Pat Riley were inevitable. While some of the chatter was just the usual hype that comes with a new hire, Redick does share some intriguing parallels with the legendary coach.
Both men transitioned from playing on the court to analyzing from the media booth before stepping into the Lakers' coaching spotlight, each without prior head coaching experience. And yes, they both have a knack for keeping their hair impeccably styled. In their debut seasons, they each achieved the impressive milestone of 50 wins.
Riley, of course, stands in a league of his own among NBA coaching greats, which the Lakers acknowledged by honoring him with a statue. Yet, Riley holds Redick in high regard, expressing his admiration during the post-ceremony press conference.
“I love JJ,” Riley remarked. “We competed against him.
My teams faced him on various squads. He’s fiery, a sharpshooter, and tough as nails.
Sometimes, I see a bit of myself in him and I think they chose well.”
Riley continued, “There’s something special about him. With a team featuring [Luka] Dončić, [Austin] Reaves, and, of course, LeBron [James], they’re in a great position.
I believe Rob [Pelinka] and the new ownership will build around those talents. JJ is the right coach for this moment.”
Riley's praise is no small thing, and Redick reciprocates the admiration.
“I grew up watching ‘90s basketball, those Knicks and Heat teams - tough and physical,” Redick shared before facing the Clippers. “I played against Riles in Orlando. The word ‘culture’ is overused, but Miami’s consistency under him is remarkable.”
Redick added, “What he achieved with the Lakers is the benchmark. To be in one place for nearly a decade and win multiple championships - that’s the dream.”
While Redick still has a journey ahead to reach Riley’s legendary status, the mutual respect and admiration are clear. It’s heartening to see the current Lakers coach receive such esteem from one of the all-time greats.