Redick retools coaching style after Thunder exit

Lakers head coach JJ Redick has altered his approach to managing his team, moving away from the anger that fueled his playing career to favor a calmer demeanor on the bench. Redick, 42, told the Southern California News Group in October that his team reflects his mood, body language, and words, meaning his internal state directly impacts player performance.

The shift follows a second-round playoff exit against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2025-26 season. Redick acknowledged that some tools that worked for him as a player became deterrents for him as a coach. He stated that he learned calm is better, recognizing that players tune out or react negatively when a coach relies solely on anger for accountability.

Redick first became the Lakers head coach in June 2024. He has met with a performance coach since then to rethink his communication methods. He noted that while he can function with anger, not everyone on the team can. He prioritized getting players clear-minded and understanding the assignment over riling them up. This realization was a process of understanding that developed through his first two seasons in the role.

Mike Krzyzewski, the 79-year-old Duke head coach who mentored Redick from 2002 to 2006, supports this evolution. Krzyzewski described Redick as someone who is always becoming, meaning he is always willing to listen, learn, and adapt. Krzyzewski noted that Redick used anger as fuel during his college career, facing verbal combat from opposing crowds. He views anger as a valid resource if it inspires the team rather than destroying it.

Krzyzewski and Redick maintain a friendship that began at Duke. They trust one another and communicate about mindset and self-care rather than just strategy. Redick said their relationship extends beyond basketball, with conversations often covering family and personal well-being. Redick also studies other coaches, citing time spent with Rams head coach Sean McVay as insightful for his own development.

Redick’s path to the NBA coaching ranks included 15 years as a player and several seasons as an ESPN broadcaster. He became the first Lakers head coach since Phil Jackson to reach the 50-win milestone in consecutive seasons. He is the 16th coach in NBA history to record 50-win seasons in his first two years. Only Pat Riley, Paul Westhead, and Butch van Breda Kolff had achieved that feat with the Lakers before him.

The Lakers are off to a strong start in the 2026-27 season, holding a 7-2 record entering Thursday. The team ranks second in points per game at 121.8 and has the 17th-best defense, holding opponents to 113.9 points per game. Luka Doncic leads the team with league-leading averages of 38.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per game.

Redick believes the core job of a coach is simple: maximize the group and ensure people enjoy coming to work. He reiterated this sentiment Monday before the Lakers defeated the Miami Heat. Krzyzewski added that Redick’s recent retirement in September 2021 gives him empathy for his players, many of whom he played against or with during his career.

The Lakers face the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday at 7 p.m. at Crypto.com Arena. The game will air on Spectrum SportsNet and Prime Video, with radio coverage on 710 AM and 980 AM.