ESPN Analysts Give Glowing Endorsement of JJ Redick

As the Los Angeles Lakers roll on with an eight-game winning streak and Luka Doncic cements his case as an MVP candidate, head coach JJ Redick is receiving his flowers as well.

ESPN Analysts Give Glowing Endorsement of JJ Redick

Smith, Windhorst Considering Redick for COTY

Speaking on “First Take” Friday morning, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith and Brian Windhorst praised Redick for his efforts this season, guiding the Lakers’ to a possible top-three finish with a 45-25 record and the longest winning streak of the season. Windhorst revealed that the second-year head coach is on his list for Coach of the Year, noting its his “biggest complement” for the purple and gold:

Smith added that he and Windhorst have a vote in the matter, and said that Redick is “definitely” on his list for the award as well.

Redick Mounting COTY Case

At the end of last season, when the Lakers fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs, Redick admitted he could “get a lot better” heading into year two. Fast forward a few months, and that desire for growth has led to tangible results on and off the court.

Redick has weathered the storm in his second year on the sidelines, leading one of the NBA’s premier franchises amid a pivotal transition period between superstar eras. He’s instilled championship-level habits and an overwhelmingly positive culture while navigating a maze of injuries, empowering polarizing personalities and putting questions over the big three’s fit to rest. And after the team’s defensive struggles in the first half of the season, an increase in zone and more versatility in coverage proved to be just what the doctor ordered. LA recently shut down Kevin Durant, Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Anthony Edwards en route to wins in playoff-like atmospheres—positive and crucial signs ahead of the home stretch.

Redick’s work, and the growing national spotlight around it, should give him some hype toward a Coach of the Year run, especially after he finished sixth in the category last season with no first-place votes. While positive recognition alone is not enough to outweigh the cases of JB Bickerstaff—who has transformed the Pistons from the laughingstock to the league leaders—or Joe Mazzulla—who has beat the “gap year” talk to boost the Celtics into contention yet again—voters and fans shouldn’t dismiss Redick right away. Not after the Lakers’ hot streak and Redick’s central role in it.

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