JJ Redick Sends Strong Message Amid Lakers' Playoff Push

The Purple and Gold recently posted a clip on Instagram with the caption "Love the work," where Redick was direct about what the job actually demands day to day:

He said, "Your time, it's all day, it's all night. Go to sleep thinking about stuff. Wake up thinking about a player and where his head space is at. You beat yourself up about a possession. You wake up some mornings and you feel pretty good.”

“I think I've gotten really good at just prioritizing what needs to be done on a daily basis, and that looks differently every day, so there's no way to divvy up a proportion. It's part of what makes this job exciting. There's a different challenge every day," Reddick added. 

It is safe to say that every line of his message landed because that's the clarity everyone expects from a man who spent 15 years in NBA locker rooms before stepping into the coaching role. 

In his first year, the 41-year-old led the Lakers to 50 wins and a Pacific Division title, even after the midseason trade for Luka Doncic. Their five-game first-round exit against the Timberwolves clearly still bothers him.

He has established an elite record in this category. The Lakers posted a 57–4 record when leading after the third quarter under his tenure, the best such mark in NBA history at the time. As Redick says, the work is still ongoing.

Safe to say, his strong message landed on the right night. Playing without LeBron James, the Lakers claimed the victory, with Doncic recording 35 points and 8 rebounds, and Austin Reaves adding 25 points to strengthen their hold on the 6th seed.