JJ Redick Takes the Helm as Lakers Coach Amid Pat Riley’s Honor

As JJ Redick gears up to lead the Lakers against the Celtics this Sunday, the franchise is also honoring Pat Riley with the unveiling of the first coaching statue outside Crypto.com Arena.

This convergence of past and present is striking. Redick, just 41, aims to replicate the legendary successes of the 80-year-old Riley.

Since he took the reins of the Lakers in June 2024, comparisons to Riley have been hard to avoid.

Both are former players turned announcers. Riley had minimal coaching experience—two years as an assistant with the Lakers—before stepping into a top coaching role in 1981. Redick, meanwhile, lacks any coaching history. Yet, both are known for their sophisticated approaches.

They also share the challenge of navigating significant transitions. Riley guided the Lakers from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Magic Johnson, while Redick is at the forefront of the Lakers’ shift from LeBron James to Luka Doncic at guard.

Upon his hiring, Redick was well aware that expectations were sky-high following the tenure of the legendary coach Armani. The prevailing question surfaced: Could he become the next Pat Riley?

“To me, Pat kind of set the standard for modern NBA coaches,” Redick remarked.

For Riley, such regard is rewarding.

“He’s a fiery guy,” Riley noted, acknowledging Redick. “He could shoot the ball hard. He was tough as nails. Sometimes I look at J.J. and think they picked the right guy. He has the qualities to go beyond that.”

Redick is still finding his voice as a coach, tweaking his style. What stands out is his relentless work ethic. Respected for his basketball IQ, he often isolates himself post-game to meticulously review film. He embodies the spirit of a player.

His intensity is certainly reminiscent of Riley’s own charisma.

At the recent statue unveiling—a towering 8-foot, 510-pound tribute to Riley—Magic Johnson shared insights on Riley’s leadership style.

“He didn’t give us a day off, not a minute off in the playoffs,” Johnson recalled.

No doubt, Johnson praised Riley’s strategic brilliance, dubbing him a “visionary.” He highlighted the courage it took for Riley to elevate Johnson as the main offensive option, while still having Abdul-Jabbar as a teammate.

“Wait a minute,” Johnson remembered his shock. “Are you seriously telling the greatest player of the time that someone else is now a key offensive player?”

Johnson further described Riley as fearless and persistent.

Under his leadership, practices were grueling; he pushed players through relentless drills. Over the summer, he tracked players’ weights, ensuring they knew the stakes as they returned to training camp.

Riley expertly motivated Johnson by showcasing highlights of rivals like Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, and saying, “What are you going to do?”

“Once he did that, I was ready to go for a triple-double,” Johnson said. “That was all it took to elevate my game.”

Riley secured four championships for the Lakers between 1982 and 1988, heralding the Showtime era. Johnson considers him “one of the greatest coaches of all time” and “the coolest guy to ever wear an Armani suit.”

Meanwhile, Redick is still relatively new in his coaching role.

He remains in the early stages of his journey. Last season, his focus shifted to personal growth over metrics, securing third place in the Western Conference with a 50-32 record, though they faced an early exit in the playoffs.

Yet Redick didn’t bask in any personal accolades.

“I know I can be better,” he stated. “And I know we can all improve. I’m not fully satisfied with this past year. While I’m proud of how we adapted and secured home court in the first round, there’s always room for growth.”

This season, despite injuries to key players like James and Doncic, Redick’s guidance helped the Lakers achieve a fifth-place finish in the West.

Redick continues to be himself.

However, his potential seems vast. His analytical skills are sharp, honed during his time co-hosting the Mind the Game podcast, where he analyzed athletes’ movements with great detail.

The players respect him and respond well to his coaching.

Finding a balance between facilitating Doncic’s rise while managing the legacy of a 41-year-old LeBron James poses its challenges. Whether Redick will reach the same heights as Riley is still unclear.

This could be an uneven comparison, perhaps even a bit unfair.

Still, every day Redick steps onto the court, he’s reminded of his aspirations. His aspirations stand between the statues of Johnson and Abdul-Jabbar—a visual testament to greatness.

“It’s a nice looking statue,” Redick commented.