The value of the NBA coaches is often debated, but Brian Windhorst and Kendrick Perkins agree that JJ Redick was a difference for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Unfortunately for Redick, Windhorst and Perkins agree that their former ESPN colleague was a manufacturer of negative difference because the Lakers were eliminated from the NBA qualifiers by the Minnesota Timberwolves. According to Windhorst and Perkins, Redick seemed more locked up on his way than he made the necessary adjustments throughout the series.
“I’m JJ Redick, I know basketball more than anyone in the world … I never want to do that and blame this series on a person, but I have to blame this series on JJ Redick.” – Kendrick Perkins pic.twitter.com/26rwcxgtin
– Horrible Andrfection (@Awfulannouning) May 1, 2025
“Hey, I’m JJ Redick, I know Basketball more than anyone in the world,” Perkins at Scott Van Plt said on Wednesday evening after the Lakers were eliminated by Minnesota in five. “I’m going to stick to this small range of balls, regardless of the size of the Minnesota Timberwolves, I will do it in my own way because I only care about the offensive … I’m going to stick to a 40 -year -old Lebron James playing the central position … It was ridiculous.
The antenna battles between Perkins and Redick during their time together on ESPN were well documented. But Perkins was not the only one to call his former colleague after the Lakers saw their season end. Thursday morning, Windhorst also put the blame on Redick, predicting the Lakers coach will realize that he did not put his team in the best position to win.
Brian Windhorst calls JJ Redick after the Lakers lost 5 against the Timberwolves.
“Reggie Miller said about the broadcast last night that he had to try to calm him down during the pre-match meeting because JJ was really child.” pic.twitter.com/krzpwvte7j
– Horrible Andrfection (@Awfulannouning) May 1, 2025
“JJ Redick has trained very immature in this series,” said Windhorst Get up. “He was still bubbling and upset by the previous matches to the point where Reggie Miller said on the show, he had to try to calm him down at the pre-match meeting because JJ act, frankly, childish.
In match 4, Redick relied controversial on his starters for the second half, despite the observers who noticed that LeBron James and Luka Dončić seemed tired. The Lakers finally showed two -digit lead at the end of the defeat against Minnesota. And when a journalist questioned Redick on the decision, the Recrue head coach offended the issue and suddenly ended his press conference.
Redick went to his bench in match 5, but chose to use the Maxi Kleber center to close the fourth quarter, which had been playing its first minutes since January 25. NBA media can try to question the decision, but Redick knows more basketball than anyone in the world. It was simply not enough to win more than one eliminatory match in his first season as a chief coach.