The Los Angeles Lakers took the risk of hiring JJ Redick to lead their squad to the 2024-2025 NBA season. Management believes that Redick will help with his coaching strategies and bring in another title for the team. The franchise is also optimistic that under coach Redick, he will lead LA toward an NBA title. The Lakers will expect these five players to benefit and rise under the new coach’s leadership.
Expect These Five LA Lakers Players to Benefit and Thrive Under Coach JJ Redick
JJ Redick wants to coach an NBA team. He wants to bring the best for his wards, the organization, and its fans. Also, the thrills of competing, performing to a higher level, teamwork, and leadership are the driving factors for Redick.
With Redick’s vision of the Lakers on top of their game, here are the five players who will benefit and thrive under him.
Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis is a formidable force when playing center for the team. Redick’s vision for Davis is to enhance his performance on offense. Davis’ productive post is playing power forward. Every time he sits to rest, the team’s performance drops. AD contributed an average of 24.7 points per game (55.6% FG) last season. Getting the 2.08-meter center/power forward to his original position will yield more points to his game.
Lebron James
Analysts and fans believe Lebron James may have had a say in hiring Redick for the LA Lakers. Management may have hired Redick to tailor James’ playing capability. As a result, expect the 39-year-old veteran to enhance the team’s performance around him.
At his age, James still possesses the prowess of a scoring machine. He is on top of his game and can deliver what an MVP requires. Redicks’s strategy for James is to utilize him more on offense by limiting his ball-handling exposure. The four-time MVP can still score consistently and sparing from the pressure of bringing the ball will be better for the team.
Max Christie
The LA Lakers drafted Max Christie but his playing time drizzled under former coach Darvin Ham. The shooting guard played well when given the opportunity. He is shooting 42.3% from the field and 35.1% from beyond the arc. Under Redick’s strategy, expect Cristie’s development and added playing time. The unit aims to develop him as their 3 and D wingman.
With Christie’s 6’5” frame and a 6’9” wingspan, his three-point capability, and defensive attributes suit Redick’s aim to improve the team’s performance. His role will help enhance the team’s offense. It will complete Redick’s vision and complement James and Davis in the offensive plays.
Austin Reaves
In Austin Reaves’ rookie year, he delivered more than what was expected from him. Redick wants Reaves to continue and improve further. Reaves is mentally tough and has a competitive attitude toward every game he plays. A trait that his new coach likes about him.
In response, the young man from Arkansas believes in what Redick can do to develop the LA Lakers team. Reaves is the third-best player of the Lakers in the last two seasons. An undrafted rookie in 2021, he has proven himself worthy of the title bestowed on him. Redick is all praises for this playmaker who has got a bag of tricks in his game.
Last season, Reaves posted his career-best in points at 35 against the Orlando Magic. He grabbed his most rebounds at 16 against the Denver Nuggets. He dished 14 dimes, also against the Nuggets; and made 3 steals in each of the 5 games last season. Reaves also drained seven three-pointers in two games against the Kings and the Celtics the past season.
D’Angelo Russell
Redick aims to work with D’Angelo Russell and make him realize his true potential on the court. Russell has an average of 6.3 dimes to 2.1 lost ball possession. Russell could play ball handler or shooter. He averaged 43.4% FG shooting and 41.5% from the three-point range. These figures signify that Russell qualifies in easing James’ workload.
Other LA Lakers players that the new coach looks forward to developing their contribution are Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt. With JJ Redicks’s vision falling in place, The Los Angeles Lakers quest for this season’s title is within reach.
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