Report: JJ Redick Has Lakers Players Doing ‘More Live Basketball’ In Workouts

According to NBA reporter Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times, JJ Redick has Los Angeles Lakers players doing “more live basketball” in workouts. 

Redick is the new head coach of the Lakers. The former NBA guard replaced Darvin Ham. 

“Workouts have featured more live basketball — one on one and three on three — than past summers when the focus was more on individual, noncompetitive work,” Woike wrote. “This could be one step of the player development changes that Redick vowed to make when he took the job this summer, a change the organization has tied to the changing salary cap rules. But, honestly, the changes probably were overdue.”

Redick has yet to coach above the youth level. He played 15 years in the NBA with the Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, New Orleans Pelicans and Dallas Mavericks.

The Lakers went 47-35 in 2023-24. They lost to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2024 playoffs in five games.

Denver also beat Los Angeles in the 2023 Western Conference Finals. 

According to NBA insiders Shams Charania, Jovan Buha and Sam Amick of The Athletic, Redick is focused on elevating Anthony Davis’ involvement and alleviating LeBron James‘ workload.

LeBron, 39, is the oldest player in the NBA. He turns 40 in December. 

“He explained his decision-making process when it comes to strategy, how the analysis and empirical evidence would always guide his choices rather than preconceived notions or outdated beliefs,” Charania, Buha and Amick wrote. “Redick described a system molded around this roster, focusing on elevating Davis’ involvement, particularly late in games, and alleviating the constant ballhandling duties on James by utilizing him more off the ball. Keeping James, who turns 40 in December, fresh down the stretch of the regular season and into the playoffs will be critical.”

The Lakers haven’t made any moves in free agency or trades this offseason. The only new players on the roster are rookies Bronny James and Dalton Knecht.