JJ Redick's first season as Los Angeles Lakers' chief coach ended in disappointment as Minnesota Timberwolves eliminated five games in the first round of the playoffs. Redick kept his skeptics silent in the regular season situation but failed to show up in the playoffs.
Redick led the Lakers to an impressive 50-32 record in the 2024-25 year, despite never coaching the job at the NBA, college or high school level. They are the third seed of the West and are expected to make the playoffs. The Lakers were touted as the biggest threat to the Peak Thunder, but collapsed in the first obstacle itself.
Timberwolves took away the home advantage by defeating the Lakers 117-95 in Game 1. After the defeat, some alarm bells began to ring, but the Lakers then won Game 2 94-85 to ease their concerns. They are in the series, but they won't win another game from then on.
The Lakers were eliminated in the fourth quarter of the first two games, which will continue to be the rest of the theme. Although it was poorly reflected on Redick alone, some of the major decisions he made ultimately opposed.
Redick played LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Dorian Finney-Smith throughout the second half of Game 4. Five of them seemed to exhaust Steam in the latter stage, eventually wasting a quarter-quarter lead of 10 points.
Redick has also been criticized for his smaller roster against the Timberwolves, but he refused to change his game plan. This in turn led Rudy Gobert to dominate the Lakers with 27 points and 24 rebounds in Game 5. Redick was underperforming in his first playoff series as head coach, and Magic Johnson seemed to blame him for being eliminated in five games.
“ESPN’s wake-up host Mike Greeny played the point guard like I used to, sprinkled all the talents this morning, talking about the Lakers’ situation and why they lost to them. Kendrick Perkins did a great job and I really respected his point of view on the Lakers this morning.
ESPN's wake-up host Mike Greeny plays the point guard like I used to, handing the ball over to all the talents on the show this morning, talking about the Lakers' situation and why they lost. Kendrick Perkins did a great job and I really respect his point of view on...
- Earvin Magic Johnson (@magicjohnson) May 1, 2025
Johnson likes what Kendrick Perkins had to say on "Get Up." As for what Perkins said, he totally accuses Redick of his early exports to the Lakers.
Perkins stood up and said, "Damn me, I blame JJ Redick, right." "Mr. JJ Redick, I know basketball more than anyone in the world. Mr. JJ Redick, when you are watching the world, you can see that you need some type of size and athleticism, and when you are fighting against the long Minnesota team on the body, their rosters are still on top, but yours is still on top?
"And left behind a 40-year-old to fight in the squads at LeBron James, five games," Perkins added. "Listen, I don't understand because of my whole life. It's nothing to do with X and O and the plan. It's common sense."
"You should be damned, I blame JJ Redick." 😯
- Get up (@getupespn) May 1, 2025
-@kendrickperkins About the Lakers' Losing to the Timberwolves pic.twitter.com/c5degvgasp
Redick caught fire in every corner. All the kindness he had gained in that regular season seemed to evaporate instantly.
Related: Legendary NBA coach gives subtle shots on JJ Redick after Lakers' playoff collapse