Lakers Fans Outraged Over Coaching Decision by JJ Redick

It’s not every day that an entire season hinges on a single moment during a game.

However, frustrated fans of the Lakers are expressing their dissatisfaction with head coach JJ Redick following a pivotal moment.

With just 12.2 seconds left in Game 4, and the Lakers trailing 113-110, Redick decided to call a timeout. As the players regrouped, it was expected to see LeBron James, Austin Reeves, Luke Kennard, and Marcus Smart on the court.

But then, the fifth player stepping onto the court raised some eyebrows, both in the arena and among the announcers.

Maxi Kleber, who had spent the overwhelming majority of the game on the bench, suddenly came into play, adding to the confusion. Meanwhile, Rui Hachimura, who had a standout performance with 25 points and had just made a significant four-point play, was left sitting in favor of Kleber.

Ultimately, Reeves took a deep three-pointer off a screen set by Kleber, but it merely hit the rim, signaling the end of the Lakers’ season.

It’s understandable why fans are upset with Redick’s decision here. The best chances of scoring were likely with either James or Reeves. And let’s not forget Kennard, who had the highest three-point shooting percentage in the league—he might have made a good decoy. Smart’s presence made sense; his defensive skills can handle bigger players. Yet, replacing Hachimura seems baffling, especially since he was having a fantastic game and could have easily attempted the final shot.

It boils down to a choice between Hachimura, a solid fourth option, and Kleber, who is mainly known for setting screens. Redick’s logic may carry weight in some arguments—after all, Kleber is a good screener. But that’s not what Lakers fans want to hear right now. Redick’s decisions will definitely be under scrutiny moving forward, despite the ups and downs of the season.