“A real idiot!” Redick and Russell hooked up in 2019. Now they’re on the same team.
October 16, 2024, 18:30 Moscow time
Surely this won’t ruin the chemistry on the Lakers?
What do you even know about discomfort? Recently, D’Angelo Russell bullied and trolled JJ Redick in the playoffs and will play under his leadership next season. On the eve of the 2024/2025 regular season, we remember a funny incident between the new Lakers coach and his subordinate.
Russell’s breakthrough came in the 2018/2019 season. That’s when the point guard became Brooklyn’s leader, playing a record 81 games and finishing second in Most Improved Player of the Year voting. The crown of progress has so far been the only invitation to the All-Star Game. The Nets climbed to sixth place in the East and in the first round fell to Philadelphia, where Redick played.
The series itself turned out to be a success for the Sixers. They made a gentleman’s sweep to be eliminated in the second round favored by Joel Embiid after Kawhi Leonard’s chance to win the game in game seven. However, one of the episodes of that confrontation took on new colors after the appointment of Redick as head of the Lakers.
JJ and D’Angelo had their own clash, which the participants recalled in one of the friendly podcasts. In one episode, Redick guarded Russell and was unable to stop him without drawing a foul. The infraction proved fatal for the sniper and he left the court due to too many fouls. The opponent was not left in debt and waved his hand at Jay as he left the court. Redick later described his emotions and said that at that moment only one short but concise phrase was repeating in his head regarding Russell: “You’re a real asshole.”
JJ Redick and D’Angelo Russell, 2019/2020 season
Photo: Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images
After his playing career ended, JJ appeared regularly on various podcasts and was especially memorable for his conversations with LeBron James. When Redick unexpectedly received an appointment to the Lakers, haters did not stop referring to the cronyism and dishonest selection of the Los Angeles front office. There are really many dark points in this story, since the specialist, who previously had no experience working at a high level, was immediately invited to the league’s leading franchise. Additionally, he received a generous check worth $8 million, instantly catapulting him into the top 10 of the NBA’s highest-paid coaches.
Russell’s trip to the City of Angels was also interesting. D’Angelo’s path to the association began here, but after Brooklyn he had to return to Golden State and Minnesota. Redick reportedly plans to start at point guard, but his positions are the same as last season. In the offseason, the Lakers guard was considered the leading trade candidate. Furthermore, of the team’s entire main rotation, only he does not have a guaranteed contract for the 2025/2026 championship.
JJ Redick and D’Angelo Russell, 2019
Photo: Drew Hallowell/Getty Images
How do the parties communicate now? Pretty friendly so far. At training camp, Russell praised Redick’s analytical approach to training and noted that it was important for him to build a relationship of trust with his new coach. JJ, for his part, did not skimp on praise either. The coach said that while he doesn’t expect the point guard to be a defensive anchor, he values his unique skill set and impact on the game.
Much of the Lakers’ success depends on the chemistry between the old enemies. It is noteworthy that both have no margin for error. Over the past five seasons, Redick is the team’s third coach and Russell has experience in trades to another franchise. Maybe that “jerk” will come back to haunt the Lakers in the 2019 playoffs.
