The Los Angeles Lakers are gearing up for the upcoming NBA season, and all eyes are on their new head coach, JJ Redick. A former player turned broadcaster, Redick is now transitioning into coaching with a team that includes one of the greatest basketball players of all time, LeBron James, and his son, Bronny James.
A Historic Father-Son Duo
LeBron James and Bronny James playing together would be a historic milestone for the NBA. The Lakers, who selected Bronny with the 55th pick in the second round, could make this dream a reality. A veteran of 22 NBA seasons at 39 years old, LeBron is still a dominant force on the court. On the other hand, Bronny, who played one season at USC, is expected to spend a significant amount of time in the G League, honing his skills.
JJ Redick expressed his enthusiasm for coaching Bronny. "I don't look at it as a challenge. It's unique from any other challenge of coaching a player or coaching a relationship. Bronny, I feel very fortunate that I get to coach him because he's young and he's hungry, and he's got a lot of inherent skillsets that we can really mold into a really good NBA player."
Building Sustainable Excellence
Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka remains optimistic about the chemistry and future of the team under Redick's guidance. "I think the philosophy that JJ and I are aligned on is we want to build sustainable Lakers excellence," Pelinka said. "Every lens that we look through has to lead to sustainable Lakers excellence." This philosophy underscores their strategic approach to team building and roster management, focusing on long-term success rather than quick fixes.
The Lakers' roster has seen minimal changes from last season, which brings a sense of continuity into the new campaign. Key players like Gabe Vincent and Jalen-Hood Schifino are healthy, ready to make significant contributions. However, there are concerns about Jarred Vanderbilt, who had procedures on both feet during the offseason.
Pelinka remains hopeful about Vanderbilt’s availability. "We have a lot of optimism that when the real games start, he'll be available. Between now and then, there is still about a month, and there are a lot of ramp-up steps that need to go well, so hopefully there won't be setbacks," he stated.
Anticipation and Preparation
The first game of the regular season is set for October 22, against the Minnesota Timberwolves. As excitement builds, the specifics of how LeBron and Bronny will be used on the court remain under wraps, awaiting further discussions. "We obviously have talked about it as a staff and we've gotten into some specifics of what that might look like. But we haven't committed to anything. And obviously, there's a discussion to be had once we're all together with Bronny and LeBron, too. They should be a part of that discussion as well," Redick explained.
One memorable moment between father and son was recounted by Pelinka: "[Bronny] got switched onto LeBron, and LeBron took him baseline, up and under off the glass. The words exchanged afterward were probably more challenging than anything else." To which LeBron simply added, "Great defense. Better O."
The storylines are rich with potential as the Lakers embark on a new season under a fresh leader, poised to carve new chapters in the storied franchise’s history. The combination of seasoned experience and youthful promise offers a compelling narrative, one that fans will keenly follow as the Lakers aim for sustained excellence.