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By selecting JJ Redick as head coach, the Los Angeles Lakers have embraced the need to adapt to the NBA’s current era.
It’s unknown if Redick will succeed as a first-time locker room leader, but his understanding of the game and ability to educate viewers as an analyst have piqued the interest of some.
Approximately one month after he was formally hired as head coach of the Lakers, Redick’s players are beginning to provide insight on how he intends to run his offense.
Much could change between now and the 2024-25 regular season, but Redick has been outspoken about his desire to modernize the Lakers. He wants to implement new systems on both ends of the floor and create a culture of accountability behind closed doors. In a recent interview with Jovan Buha of The Athletic, Lakers guard Max Christie spoke about what Los Angeles’ offense will look like under Redick and how he fits into the new coach’s system.
“Just being that guy that can kind of take a load off of them, especially with my shooting ability and spacing the floor. The good thing with JJ, especially this is how he kind of played when he was in his career, there’s going to be a lot of free-flowing movement in our offense with cuts and pindowns and all sorts of stuff. That’s what I’ve been working on here at home, especially with the coaches in Vegas and even in California, too. “
This comes on the heels of Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht revealing that Redick has spoken with him about moving more when the ball isn’t in his hands. Max Christie sheds light on JJ Redick’s offensive gameplan Redick has made it clear that he wants the Lakers to shoot more threes during the 2024-25 season. It’s just one element of what he plans to differently than previous head coach Darvin Ham, who seemingly resisted the opportunity to embrace the outside shot.
In 2023-24, the Lakers ranked No. 8 in the NBA in three-point field goal percentage, but finished at No. 28 in three-point field goal attempts. By re-signing Christie and drafting Knecht, the Lakers made a clear commitment to improving in that area. Christie is a career 37.8 percent shooter from beyond the arc through two NBA seasons, while Knecht knocked down 39.7 percent of his threes with the Tennessee Volunteers in 2023-24. The idea of a free-flowing offense supports the increased emphasis on the outside shot, as attempting more threes will provide improved spacing.
That should benefit franchise players Anthony Davis and LeBron James immensely. Both ranked in the top 10 in the NBA in points in the paint a season ago, and should be able to score more efficiently with additional room to operate on the drive or in post-up situations. It should also help James, who will turn 40 early in the 2024-25 regular season, after he shot a career-best 41.0 percent from beyond the arc in 2023-24.
With more off-ball movement, the Lakers should avoid relying on a single player to provide the majority of their offense. That could be the single most significant feature of this new mindset, as Davis and James can have more offense produced for them while bearing less of the load of creating for others. It remains to be seen how this will play out and how much support Redick will receive, but this shift in thinking is welcome in Los Angeles.
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