LeBron James Shows Love To JJ Redick After 50-Win Milestone As Rookie Coach

LeBron James took to X (formerly Twitter) to show love to his first-year head coach JJ Redick after the Los Angeles Lakers secured their 50th win of the season with a victory over the Houston Rockets. In a tweet that mixed both subtle self-awareness and heartfelt congratulations, LeBron wrote, 

“Man I was going to say something but it’s useless at this point in my career! Anyways more important CONGRATULATIONS JJ on a 50 win season in the WEST & Post Season nod! That’s .” 

That "I was going to say something" wasn’t just an empty phrase—it was widely interpreted as LeBron’s subtle response to Isiah Thomas, who had just publicly criticized him for completing pre-game warmups without a shirt. 

The Hall of Fame point guard said on national television that he “one hundred percent objected” to LeBron’s shirtless pre-game routine, calling it unprofessional and even suggesting Adam Silver fine him. 

LeBron, however, chose not to take the bait. With over two decades of experience in the league and more accolades than almost any player in history, he opted to keep his focus on the team. By congratulating Redick and ignoring the controversy, LeBron demonstrated the exact maturity and leadership that Isiah claimed was missing.

JJ Redick has exceeded expectations in his debut season as a head coach. The Lakers finished the 2024-25 regular season with a 50-32 record, a three-win improvement from last year and a notable leap in chemistry, consistency, and overall identity. 

Redick’s team was more cohesive, better on both ends of the floor, and far more resilient in tight contests. 

While he may not be the front-runner for Coach of the Year—thanks in part to the miraculous turnaround J.B. Bickerstaff engineered in Detroit—Redick has firmly planted himself in that conversation.

The Lakers began the season with Anthony Davis as the focal point on both ends, which saw them make a solid start. However, by the end of December, defensive inconsistencies had the team hovering in the play-in spots. 

January brought a shift, as the Lakers locked in defensively and found more rhythm on offense, helping them climb into the top six in the West.

Then came one of the biggest trades in recent NBA history. On February 3, Los Angeles shocked the league by trading Anthony Davis for Luka Doncic. Redick, who had previously praised Luka as a generational talent during his time as a podcaster and analyst, suddenly found himself coaching the superstar. 

While losing Davis meant surrendering their defensive anchor, the addition of Doncic gave Redick a new offensive engine to build around.

It took time for the new-look Lakers to gel, but once they did, they caught fire. By early-March, they had surged as high as the No. 2 seed in the West. 

Injuries to LeBron James, Austin Reaves, and Rui Hachimura cooled their momentum slightly, but they still finished strong, clinching the No. 3 seed and home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

From podcasting alongside LeBron on Mind the Game to now guiding him and this team to 50 wins, JJ Redick has silenced critics who believed he only got the job due to his relationship with the Lakers’ superstar. 

His rookie coaching campaign has been anything but cosmetic. Redick’s leadership, adaptability, and calm under pressure have laid the foundation for what could be a deep playoff run. 

As Rui Hachimura revealed, Redick had told the team his goal for Year 1 was 50 wins and a top-three seed, and he has achieved both.

The job’s not done, but JJ’s arrival is no longer in question.