Suddenly, the Los Angeles Lakers have surged to the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference. The journey under Darvin Ham was marked by a rollercoaster of ups and downs, but things have steadied with J.J. Redick at the helm.
Although the Lakers had a rocky start this season, they’ve emerged as one of the league’s top teams over the past month. This impressive turnaround is why Stephen A. Smith is advocating for Redick to be seriously considered for Coach of the Year honors.
On ESPN’s “First Take,” Smith expressed that Redick, along with J.B. Bickerstaff and Kenny Atkinson, should be leading contenders for the prestigious award.
You can’t really argue with Smith on this one. Redick has transformed the Lakers’ defensive game, and even without ample depth at the center position, they look poised for a championship run.
Sure, acquiring Luka Doncic has been a massive boost, yet it’s crucial to note that the Lakers’ positive shift was already underway before Doncic joined them in California.
Initially, there were valid concerns about Redick. Despite his basketball acumen, stepping into this challenging role was a daunting task. He’d recently launched a podcast with LeBron James, often critiquing Ham’s strategies, which made for an awkward situation.
Nonetheless, Redick has effectively separated his friendship with LeBron from his coaching responsibilities. The team has rallied in support, and while he still faces the test of playoff performance, there’s plenty of reason to feel hopeful.
