LA Lakers head coach JJ Redick has said that he is grateful to the way the LA Lakers roster responded to their playoff exit last season.
On the eve of the 2025-26 NBA season beginning, the LA Lakers‘ playoff elimination last season is still a topic.
The Lakers lost in the opening round of the playoffs to the Minnesota Timberwolves, losing the series 4-1.
The way the Lakers were defeated in Game 5 featured a bizarre coaching choice from JJ Redick, when he elected to play without a center.
Rudy Gobert dominated for Minnesota with a monster 27-point, 24-rebound performance to destroy the Lakers’ small-ball lineup.
JJ Redick’s risk did not pay off, and he has thanked the Lakers players he snubbed for how they dealt with it.
JJ Redick held talks with three Lakers stars
JJ Redick spoke to reporters 24 hours ahead of the Lakers’ tip off against the Golden State Warriors.
He explained that he held talks with Jaxson Hayes, Gabe Vincent and Jarred Vanderbilt quickly after the Lakers playoff defeat, where they were snubbed from his rotation.
Redick says he is thankful for their professional reaction, believing it makes his job easier, as it proves there is harmony within the team.
He explained: “I spoke to Gabe, Jaxson, Vando within a couple of hours of that game ending.
“To be honest with you they all understood, to a man they said, ‘we understand what you are doing, you are trying to win a basketball game, it’s not personal’.
“They were professional about it.”
“Their reaction to something like that, that has an impact on their teammates, creating a sense of trust.
“If everyone is buying the line, we are going to do whatever it takes to win, and it’s not personal, then it generally becomes pretty easy to make decisions.”
Redick admits that the decision was clearly not the right one because the Lakers lost the game, and the series.
“At the time, whether it’s the right or wrong decision, they have consequences. they are only bad decisions if you don’t get the result you want.”
JJ Redick gives Jaxson Hayes update
JJ Redick added that Jaxson Hayes is ‘trending’ in the right direction to be available for the LA Lakers’ season opener.
LeBron James was also seen at the Lakers facility but Redick said he had ‘no update’ on the superstar’s status.
James is dealing with a sciatica injury, leaving Redick to play without the 40-year-old for the Lakers’ opening games.
