The Los Angeles Lakers made a bold decision when they fired Darvin Ham. It wasn’t surprising, but the team’s direction afterward raised eyebrows. Their attempt to lure Dan Hurley, fresh off back-to-back college titles, signaled a desire for championship experience. However, when Hurley declined, the Lakers pivoted in a completely different direction. Instead of hiring a seasoned NBA coach, the front office tapped JJ Redick—a former player and podcast personality. Redick, with no prior coaching experience, stepped into one of basketball’s most demanding roles. In Redick, many within and outside the Lakers organization believed they saw flashes of another legendary leader—Pat Riley.
Despite Success, The Ghost Of Pat Riley Haunts Lakers’ JJ Redick
Just as Riley took over in 1981 and delivered a title in his rookie year, Redick enters the playoffs hoping to replicate that legendary start. In his debut season, Redick guided the Lakers to 50 wins, finishing third in a loaded Western Conference. Coincidentally, that’s the same win total Riley’s first Lakers team posted.
Playoff Pressure Hits Fast
For the Lakers, the regular season is just the opening act. True judgment comes in the playoffs. That truth hit Redick hard after Game 1 against the Timberwolves. Despite a solid season, his debut playoff game drew sharp criticism.
Magic Johnson, a Lakers legend and normally a measured voice, didn’t hold back. On social media, he called out Redick’s Game 1 performance. The Lakers lacked ball movement, played isolation-heavy basketball, and looked unprepared for Minnesota’s physicality. “Coach JJ Redick did a great job all season but didn’t do a good job for Game 1,” Magic posted on X.
Coach JJ Redick did a great job all season but he didn’t do a good job for Game 1. The Lakers stood around on offense, played too much one-on-one basketball, and he didn’t make any necessary adjustments.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 20, 2025
The Redick – Pat Riley comparisons on the Lakers began to feel premature. Game 1 was a wake-up call. A team that looked poised for a deep run suddenly seemed fragile. A first-round loss would be catastrophic for Redick’s narrative.
Redick Responds With Fire
The Lakers needed a response in Game 2—and they got one. Their 22-point lead was cut to 11 in the third quarter, but Redick wasn’t about to let it slip. He stormed onto the court, screaming, “What the f— are you guys doing?” before calling timeout.
That fire sparked a turnaround. The Lakers used a 9-0 run to regain control and held on for a crucial 94-85 win. Redick’s intensity made the difference, and LeBron James backed his coach. “Listen to the message, not how he’s delivering it,” James said.
The numbers told the story. Los Angeles flipped every major Game 1 weakness. Fast-break points swung in their favor. Three-point defense locked down Minnesota. The rebounding battle tilted toward the Lakers. This was the type of response Riley would’ve demanded—and Redick delivered.
Pat Riley’s Legacy Casts A Long Shadow Over Redick’s Lakers
Still, the comparison feels both inspiring and heavy. Riley took over after a disastrous 0-11 start and turned the team into champions. Redick, though successful in the regular season, now faces higher stakes. The Lakers fanbase, with 17 banners in the rafters, doesn’t accept playoff mediocrity.
Redick’s Lakers showed they could take a punch and swing back. But to truly earn his place in Lakers lore, Redick needs to win this series and push further. His team’s toughness, shown in Game 2, must become the new standard.
Austin Reaves summed it up best: “They came in here, Game 1, and punked us. Nobody panicked. We just competed every possession.”
A War Ahead In Minnesota
Game 3 looms. The Lakers head to Minnesota with the series tied and momentum back on their side. But they know what awaits—a hostile crowd and a battle-tested Timberwolves team.
Luka Dončić understands the challenge. “It’s going to be a war,” he said. “We can’t panic. We’ve got to stay together.”
And so the journey continues. Redick’s rookie season on the Lakers mirrors Pat Riley’s in eerie ways. But championships don’t come from comparisons. They come from results. If Redick wants his name beside Riley’s, he’ll have to earn it the hard way.
© Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
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