LeBron says JJ Redick reminds him of Coach K as Lakers continue strong start

LeBron compares Redick’s intensity and IQ to Coach K

Speaking with Steve Nash on Mind The Game, LeBron highlighted the toughness, clarity and intensity that both Coach K and Redick bring to their teams. He noted that Redick has “been a winner his whole life” and was shaped by coaches who demanded excellence without softening their message.

LeBron explained that Krzyzewski was direct but purposeful — stern, honest and focused on accountability — and said Redick operates in the same vein. The Lakers star admires Redick’s willingness to be blunt when standards slip, insisting the message is never personal but rooted in long-term culture building.

Drawing from his own high school experience under hard-nosed coach Keith Dambrot, LeBron praised Redick for maintaining an old-school, no-nonsense approach that players can respect if they’re willing to embrace it.

Redick continues to prove doubters wrong in Los Angeles

Redick’s early success with the Lakers has transformed him from an untested risk into one of the league’s most promising young coaches. Achieving a winning record in year one as a first-time head coach is rare; doing it under the pressure of the Lakers job — and amid major roster changes — is remarkable.

Now in his second season, Redick has the Lakers sitting at 13–4 and climbing, even after opening stretches without LeBron. With James healthy again and the roster gaining momentum, expectations are rising. If Redick continues on this trajectory, his connection with LeBron — and his Coach K-style leadership — could become a defining story of the Lakers’ new era.