The Los Angeles Lakers are winning games, but the internal mood around the team suggests something is off. Despite sitting near the top of the Western Conference standings, head coach JJ Redick has raised concerns that point to deeper structural issues.
His recent comments have sparked discussion about whether the team’s struggles are tied to the return of its biggest star.
What Concerns Did JJ Redick Raise Over the Lakers’ Offensive Identity?
Following the Lakers’ third consecutive loss, Redick delivered an unusually candid assessment of his team’s performance. While taking responsibility as the head coach, he acknowledged that the offense has lacked cohesion since LeBron James rejoined the lineup after missing the first 14 games of the season with sciatica.
“Since we’ve gotten Bron back, we haven’t been as organized offensively,” Redick said, via BasketNews. “Too many random possessions. That’s on me. It’s those three things: defensive clarity, role clarity and offensive organization.”
JJ Redick says the Lakers had issues since LeBron returned 👀
“Since we’ve gotten LeBron back, we haven’t been as organized offensively. Too many random possessions.” pic.twitter.com/fkpVJ0NRru
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) December 28, 2025
Though Redick framed his comments as self-critical, the implication was hard to miss. The Lakers’ rhythm has clearly changed since James’ return, and the data support that observation.
With James on the floor, the Lakers have posted an offensive rating of 115.1 and a defensive rating of 121.9, resulting in a net rating of minus 6.8. Without him, those numbers improve across the board.
Offensively, the contrast is noticeable. Over the last 10 games, the Lakers have scored just 109.7 points per 100 possessions with James in the lineup, nearly four points worse than when Luka Dončić is running the offense. Defensively, the issues are even more pronounced, with opponents shooting 53 percent from the field in recent losses.
Redick acknowledged that fixing the problem will not happen overnight. “I really believe in getting back to basics and understanding the needs of the team and each guy, creating more clarity,” he said. “I know having played that what can seem very simple up there isn’t simple once you’re in real time and live action.”
Despite the concerns, the Lakers remain firmly in the playoff picture with a 19–10 record. Still, the trend is difficult to ignore. The team has been outscored by 11.8 points per game with James on the floor in December, producing a net rating of minus 23.4.
While Redick stopped short of directly blaming his star, the message was clear. For the Lakers to stabilize and maximize their potential, improved structure, sharper defensive execution, and clearer roles will be required, especially when LeBron James is leading the offense.
