After an embarrassing first-round exit at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves last season, the Lakers’ front office vowed not to let history repeat itself. They made quick moves in the offseason, bolstering the roster with depth and defensive versatility.
But despite the buzz, the purple and gold haven’t shown much promise in the preseason so far. Now, one former NBA player is trolling the second-year coach for his recent comments about LeBron James.
What Has a Former NBA Player Commented About JJ Redick?
Back in June, James exercised his $52.6 million player option to return for the 2025–26 season. That move officially made him the first player ever to compete across 23 separate NBA seasons.
However, the Lakers’ hopes for a strong start were dented when the team confirmed that James would miss up to four weeks due to sciatica. That absence leaves Redick with plenty of questions to answer as the team heads into the new campaign.
During a recent interview, Redick was asked about James’ recovery timeline and potential return. But his response caught everyone off guard as he appeared momentarily puzzled and stumbled before saying simply, “He’s on his own timeline.”
The clip quickly spread across social media, with fans surprised by Redick’s apparent confusion and lack of a concrete update.
Among those who reacted was former NBA player Rashad McCants who didn’t hold back. McCants reposted the viral snippet on his X and added a sharp caption suggesting that Redick’s vague answer was a red flag.
“Thought you was the coach JJ!!!!! This how you gotta act when you not in control lol 😂 Look at his face!!!!” wrote McCants as the caption.
Thought you was the coach JJ!!!!! This how you gotta act when you not in control lol 😂 Look at his face!!!! https://t.co/PZrfg6tg5l
— Rashad McCants (@SoundbiteKing) October 10, 2025
While McCants’ critique might sound harsh his point isn’t entirely without merit. Leadership in Los Angeles has been a recurring question mark since the end of last season, and Redick is still adapting to the responsibilities of head coaching.
Interestingly, in a prior press conference, Redick seemed quite optimistic. He praised his roster’s summer work ethic, saying that the group was committed to getting into what he called “championship shape.”
“The guys have played pickup, really every day. We’ve added conditioning at the end. They’ve all been committed to it. I think for me, that’s probably been the biggest thing. It’s not a basketball thing that he can or cannot do. It’s just all of us being in elite shape,” said Redick during a previous press conference.
Yet the Lakers have yet to find their rhythm. So far this preseason Los Angeles has played two games and has lost in both of those games. First one to the Phoenix Suns and the other to the Golden State Warriors.
In their recent matchup against Golden State the Lakers stumbled early as they trailed by one point after the first quarter and by seven at halftime. Things worsened in the third, as the Warriors built a 24-point lead (the highest lead in the game). Although the Lakers mounted a small comeback in the fourth, they ultimately fell (111–103).
Now, as the team prepares to face the Warriors again on October 12, the spotlight will be firmly on Redick. With James sidelined, this rematch could serve as an early test of Redick’s ability to rally his squad.
