3 Biggest Takeaways From JJ Redick's Lakers Introduction
By Cem Yolbulan
2. Redick Has Endless Confidence in His Coaching Ability
There were obviously a lot of questions about Redick's lack of coaching experience. Reporters wanted to find out what his coaching philosophy was and how he wanted to approach his first gig as a head coach. Redick not only answered these questions perfectly, but he displayed an impressive sense of confidence in himself.
When asked about the narrative surrounding him, Redick had an NSFW response.
“I don’t have a great answer for your question because I really don’t give a fuck.”
— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) June 24, 2024
“I want to coach the Lakers. I want to coach the team. I don’t want to dispel anything.”
JJ Redick when asked by @ClaireMPLS about the narratives around him as Coach. pic.twitter.com/Mf6VH9SGTN
This short but to-the-point answer summarizes Redick's mindset going into this job. He is ignoring all the talking heads and the social media commentary and blocking the noise. He underlined his desire to just "coach the Lakers".
This is a welcome attitude to have. One of the underappreciated responsibilities of a head coach is communication, not only with the media but also with the fans. Every time the Lakers head coach speaks, all eyes will be on them. Any mistake in communication will be amplified and put under a microscope.
Therefore, it is of utmost importance to be able to deal with the media and not let it affect your job. Redick seems to understand that. Now, he needs to maintain that level of confidence in his abilities when the going gets tough. The media will get more relentless and aggressive if things don't go well. He must continue with this attitude.