For Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick, the moment was not about strategy or wins; it was personal. After the Lakers’ 127-113 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team shared a locker room video that started like any other postgame speech. Redick stood in front of his group and went through key milestones.
He congratulated Rui Hachimura for reaching 5,000 career points. He praised Luka Doncic for crossing 15,000 points and becoming the 10th player in NBA history to score 600 points in a single month. Redick then acknowledged LeBron James for setting a new mark with 1,229 combined regular-season and playoff wins, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the winningest player in NBA history.
Then the tone shifted as General Manager Rob Pelinka stepped in and said there was one more recognition. Instead of another stat, a video played. On screen were Redick’s sons, Knox and Kai, congratulating their father for reaching 100 wins as an NBA head coach.
Redick paused as his expression changed. For a coach known for intensity and control, this hit differently. He stood there, taking it in, visibly emotional as his players watched.
A night full of milestones for the squad 🙌 pic.twitter.com/kci7M1QZRD
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) April 1, 2026
That moment captured the journey of JJ Redick.
When Redick was hired in 2024, the reaction across the league was skepticism. He had never coached at any level. Critics pointed to his connection with LeBron through the ‘Mind the Game’ podcast and questioned whether he had earned the job. The expectation was uncertainty, not success.
In his first season, Redick led the Lakers to a 50-32 record. A 50-win season right away. That alone forced a shift in how people viewed him. But the year was not smooth. During the 2025 California wildfires, Redick lost his home and had to live in a hotel for an extended period.
Around the league, players like Chris Paul and Stephen Curry showed support. Still, the Lakers’ playoff run ended early, with the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves eliminating them in five games.
This season, the Lakers have taken another leap. They sit at 50-26 with six games left. Redick has now become the first Lakers coach since Phil Jackson to record back-to-back 50-win seasons. More than the wins, the identity has changed. The team plays with structure, accountability, and effort on both ends.
Redick has not hesitated to call out his stars. He holds everyone to the same standard. That approach has built trust in the locker room and pushed the team forward. The defense has improved, and the chemistry is sky-high.
For a coach once labeled as ‘just a podcaster,’ this moment is something else entirely: It was validation.
