JJ Redick apparently was on edge with his Los Angeles Lakers’ season hanging in the balance on Wednesday night.
Redick made negative headlines after walking out of a pregame press conference ahead of Game 5 of the Western Conference first-round playoff series between his Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Redick bristled after being questioned about his late-game substitutions — or lack thereof. Redick had played the same group of players for the entire second half in Game 4, and the move backfired as his players tired and lost the game. He did not appreciate being asked a question about fourth-quarter substitutions.
Apparently that wasn’t the only time Redick showed little patience for the media.
ESPN analyst Brian Windhorst spoke on “Get Up” on Thursday and was critical of the Lakers. He said that TNT analyst Reggie Miller said on the broadcast that Miller had to calm down Redick prior to the game because the Lakers coach was still upset over what had transpired in Game 4. Windhorst said that Redick was acting childishly.
Brian Windhorst calls out JJ Redick after the Lakers lost in 5 to the Timberwolves.
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 1, 2025
"Reggie Miller said on the broadcast last night he had to try to calm him down in the pregame meeting because JJ was acting, frankly, childishly." pic.twitter.com/kRzpWvTE7j
Redick seemed to be particularly touchy about being questioned as a first-year head coach. It’s no surprise that he would be testy considering his controversial coaching strategy did not pay off and put his team in a 3-1 hole.
The Lakers knew they would be weak in the middle once they vetoed the Mark Williams trade, and that came back to haunt them in the playoff series. Williams sure seemed to enjoy the Lakers’ loss.
