JJ Redick provided a simple solution for everything complaining about the NBA All-Star Game. Don’t watch.
Amid growing scrutiny of All-Star weekend, the NBA attempted to reignite a spark by rebooting Sunday’s action. Instead of one game between the Eastern and Western Conferences, a four-team tournament occurred between three drafted All-Star squads and the winner of Saturday’s Rising Stars Game.
Players offered mixed reviews of the adjustments. However, Redick had nothing to contribute to the conversation.
“I didn’t watch any of that s**t,” Redick told reporters Tuesday when asked what he thought of the All-Star Game.
The Los Angeles Lakers head coach didn’t miss any of his players in action. Shortly before his 21st consecutive All-Star appearance, LeBron James withdrew from the game because of lingering foot and ankle issues.
“With 30 games left and us trying to make a playoff push in the wild, wild West, I felt like it was very important for me to kind of take care of myself and understand what’s coming on [down the stretch],” James said Sunday night.
Redick addressed his 40-year-old superstar’s status entering the second half.
“It’s something that we managed all year,” Redick said, via Lakers Nation’s Daniel Starkland. “It was sore over the weekend. He was able to do most of practice today. But like it’s been all year, it’s a day-to-day thing. That’s something we’ve had to manage and will continue to manage the rest of the year.”
After missing over a month with a calf injury, new Lakers acquisition Luka Doncic didn’t make the All-Star roster for the first time since his 2018-19 season. Redick’s former star, Anthony Davis, also missed the All-Star Game after suffering a left abductor strain during his Dallas Mavericks debut.
Never afraid to give a blunt opinion as an ESPN analyst, Redick didn’t feign enthusiasm for the polarizing exhibition showcase.
Redick might want to find the highlights of Mac McClung’s spectacular dunks from Saturday’s third straight Slam Dunk Contest victory. Beyond that, he missed an awkward Sunday full of increased commercial breaks and a prolonged tribute to TNT’s Inside The NBA, which will remain on air for ESPN next season.
Instead, Redick focused on the Lakers returning from the All-Star break to face the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night.
Related: Bill Simmons Reveals His Idea To ‘Fix’ NBA All-Star Weekend