Ex-All-Star Believes JJ Redick Does Not Command Respect of Lakers Players After 2 Blowout Losses

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick is facing the heat for his players' lackluster effort in their last two games.

Ex-All-Star Believes JJ Redick Does Not Command Respect of Lakers Players After 2 Blowout Losses

Lakers head coach JJ Redick has come under fire for his postgame comments (Image via FirstSportz)

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When JJ Redick was hired to be the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, many felt he got the job because LeBron James had vouched for him.

Many fans and media labeled the former shooting guard as someone who benefited from hosting a podcast with the four-time champion, as he had no formal coaching experience to speak of. They were critical of this being an example of favors among friends, as the 41-year-old would not have been offered even an assistant’s job, let alone the top opening at any other franchise.

Since then, Redick has essentially proved himself, especially when he coached the Lakers to overcome their longtime foe, the Denver Nuggets, for the first time in nearly two years.

However, their disappointing exit in the playoffs raised many questions, especially regarding the Duke alum’s tendency to blame his players. This season, those questions resurfaced after their two consecutive blowout losses, with former All-Star Kenyon Martin delving a bit deeper than others into the state of the Lakers.

JJ, I don’t know if you know this or not, bro, those dudes don’t respect you. You are their peer. Just because you have the head coach title, they don’t look at you as such. And the main culprit is the guy who you just had a podcast with that helped get you the job.

Kenyon Martin said on Gil’s Arena podcast

The former No. 1 overall pick believes that if the players had any respect for JJ Redick, they would have listened to him without needing him to repeat the importance of giving maximum effort every single game.

Skip Bayless believes LeBron James’ presence makes it awkward for JJ Redick

Throughout the entire time Kenyon Martin was speaking, Skip Bayless, who was making his first appearance on Gil’s Arena since joining Gilbert Arenas‘ production house, pointed out where he felt things were getting awkward in the Lakers.

LeBron James and JJ Redick
LeBron James and JJ Redick (Image via Hoops NBA/X)

I can’t hold him accountable for this, because he’s almost 41 years of age… I’m no big LeBron fan, but I feel sorry for him in this situation, cause it just feels wrong, wrong, wrong… He (LeBron) won’t play defense, and his podcast partner is not going to call him out, because he got the job because of him.

Skip Bayless said

The 74-year-old kept clarifying that he was not holding LeBron James accountable for the mess that the Los Angeles Lakers have become. Instead, Bayless believes the dynamic between the Akron native and his head coach is not allowing the latter to do what he wants.

There is some level of obligation, love, and respect that is stopping JJ Redick from openly calling out James for not leading by example, especially on the defensive side. Maybe the other players are noticing this, and that has led them to this situation.

Nick Wright does not believe JJ Redick has enough ‘clout’ to point fingers

JJ Redick has managed to start a storm with almost every other debate show discussing whether his postgame comments were warranted. When it was Nick Wright‘s turn, he said:

I do not think JJ Redick has earned enough clout, that’s the wrong word but, to constantly be pointing as many fingers without also pointing thumbs.

Nick Wright said on First Things First

Wright essentially was seeking accountability from the Lakers’ head coach. He believes Redick cannot go about always pointing fingers at his players, as he has seemingly made it a habit in the past year.

The analyst understands that JJ Redick needs time to get everything into rhythm, but also believes that he might have to make some tough decisions, especially with regard to the current starting five, which is just not working.

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