JJ Redick accepted the Los Angeles Lakers head coaching gig in June 2024, less than three years after announcing his retirement as a player. 

Redick went into the media after retiring, but had no prior coaching experience once he was named the new head coach. 

He did have a podcast with Lakers star LeBron James, which many pointed to as the reason he got the job in the first place. The Lakers were coming off a disappointing first round exit under Darvin Ham, one year after making the Western Conference Finals. 

Redick was highly thought of for his presence in the media, but the lack of coaching experience was the biggest knock against him. 

In back-to-back seasons, Redick has led the Lakers to 50 wins despite injuries and a major roster shift in the middle of the 2025 season. Though the team once again failed to make it out of the first round last season, Redick improved this season, adding three extra wins to the total with the Lakers securing the fourth seed in the West. 

Speaking after the regular season finale, Redick was asked about building the culture in Los Angeles. 

"The biggest thing, in both seasons, we've had to coach different ways in both years. Partially because last year we basically had three different teams. This season, with the injuries and how disjointed it felt at times, the biggest thing for our players to see from our staff is how relentless we are in trying to get these guys prepared and trying to win."

The Lakers dramatically shifted ahead of the 2025 NBA trade deadline when Anthony Davis was traded for Luka Doncic. Not only did a major organizational piece, one that had one a championship with the team, exit, but coming back was a top five player in the league who needed to be the new centerpiece. 

He continued, "I think our guys responded to that and the results have shown they responded. Overall, the culture piece is not just a winning formula; it's about how we as coaches and players interact with each other. It's never going to be perfect, but the level of respect that our guys have for each other is there every day."

The Lakers survived a number of injuries all season, including LeBron James missing the start of the year, Austin Reaves missing a stretch after Christmas, and Luka Doncic being in and out of the lineup. 

They also added Marcus Smart and Deandre Ayton to their starting lineup, both of whom had to figure out their role on a team that was looked at as a championship contender given their star power.

Despite the injuries and roster, Redrick led the Lakers to their most wins since 2010-11, which was Phil Jackson's final year in Los Angeles. 

The Lakers will now face the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs.