NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
Los Angeles Lakers was facing control in June last year when the franchise decided to hire an inexperienced JJ Redick as the franchise’s next head coach.
While Redick guided Lakers to victory in a game against Timberwolves in his coaching debut in October, Los Angeles came up against Minnesota during the post -season.
Timberwolves held on for a 103-96 victory in Game 5 to eliminate Lakers from the Playoff dispute.
Several critics have questioned Redick’s decision -making during the playoffs, especially his handling of the team’s rotation. But Espn’s Brian Windhorst suggested that the first-year Lakers head coach had trouble regulating his feelings before Game 5 tilted.
CLICK HERE for more sports cover at Foxnews.com
Los Angeles Laker’s main coach JJ Redick responds to his team losing the lead to Minnesota Timberwolves late in the fourth quarter of Game 4 in the first round of 2025 NBA endgil at Target Center in Minneapolis 27 April 2025. (Matt Blewett/Imag images)
“Reggie Miller said on the broadcast last night that he had to try to reassure him at the pregame meeting because, frankly, childish,” Windhorst said Thursday during a performance on ESPN’s “Get Up.”
Redick went out of a news conference ahead of Game 5 after a reporter asked him to play Lakers’ starters throughout the other half of Game 4.
LeBron James is facing questions about playing career after playoff -exit
“Do you say that because I am inexperienced and it was an inexperienced decision that I made?” A visible excited Redick reacted before storming out. “You think I’m not talking to my assistants about substitutions every single timeout? It’s a weird assumption.”
ESPN Sideline reporter Brian Windhorst before match 4 in the 2022 NBA final between Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics June 10, 2022 at TD Garden in Boston. (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
Windhorst added that his comments were not intended to be a personal criticism of Redick.
“I don’t mean this in a personal way. JJ Redick Coachede very immature in this series,” Windhorst added. “In posterity, JJ will realize that he wasn’t putting the lakers in the best position to win.”
Los Angeles Lakers-Tip LeBron James (23) shoots as Minnesota Timberwolves Guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (9) defends during the first half of Game 5 in a first round of playoffs series 30 April 2025 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers acquired superstar guard Luka Dončić in a blockbuster trade in February.
The five-time NBA All-Star led Lakers with 28 points on Wednesday, but continued to be a defensive responsibility. Lakers’ Front Office will face more tough decisions this season as the franchise seems to avoid the first round-playoff elimination in a third season in a row.
