Stephen A. Smith Claims JJ Redick Still Has To Fill Darvin Ham's Shoes As Lakers Head Coach

Stephen A. Smith had a lot to say about JJ Redick’s coaching job with the Los Angeles Lakers on First Take, acknowledging his attention to detail but pointing out that he still has big shoes to fill after Darvin Ham’s tenure. Smith emphasized that despite Redick's strong start, there’s an expectation of playoff success, especially since Ham guided the Lakers to a deep postseason run in his first year.

"The job that JJ Redick has done, very meticulous, very on it. He's doing the kind of job I expected him to do, but he's got shoes to fill. We have to remember, Darvin Ham took this team, his rookie year as a head coach, to the Western Conference Finals." 

"When they lost in the first round last year, it was to the same team they lost to in the Western Conference Finals, who ended up winning the championship. That was the Denver Nuggets." 

"Last year, we were making a legitimate argument that if it were not for the Denver Nuggets, there was no team in the West that the Lakers could not beat." 

"So the number one priority, would be to avoid the Denver Nuggets at all course, cuz you ain't beating them. And outside of that, again, if you go up against anybody else and you end up going to the Western Conference Finals I'd say that's a huge success for them."

While Ham’s tenure ended abruptly, he had moments of success, particularly in his first season (2022-23), when he led the Lakers to the Western Conference Finals.

After 54 games, the Lakers had a 25-29 record but finished the regular season 44-39, clinching the seventh seed through the play-in tournament. The Lakers went on an impressive playoff run, defeating the Memphis Grizzlies in six games and then the Golden State Warriors in six. However, their Cinderella run ended against the Denver Nuggets, who swept them in the Western Conference Finals.

It has to be noted that the Lakers took advantage of favorable matchups. The Grizzlies were injury-plagued, missing key players like Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke, while the Warriors had no answer for Anthony Davis in the paint. Still, the Lakers were able to dominate defensively and capitalize on mismatches to reach the conference finals.

Heading into Ham’s second season (2023-24), expectations were even higher, but the Lakers underperformed. After 54 games, they stood at 28-26, finishing with a 47-35 record, once again securing the seventh seed through the play-in tournament. Unlike the previous year, they faced Denver in the first round and were eliminated in five games. That result ultimately led to Ham’s dismissal after just two seasons.

Redick entered the season with immense pressure, stepping into a championship-aspiring franchise with LeBron James still anchoring the team and Luka Doncic getting his legs under him. After 54 games, Redick has guided the Lakers to a 33-21 record, a significant improvement over both of Ham’s seasons.

At this pace, the Lakers are projected to finish with over 50 wins, which would be a major step forward from the back-to-back 44-47 win seasons under Ham.

Smith, despite giving Redick credit for his early success, highlighted that regular season wins aren’t the ultimate measure for the Lakers. The standard in Los Angeles is deep playoff runs and championships, not just improved records.

Despite surpassing Ham’s record at this point in the season, Redick still has to prove himself in the playoffs. The Lakers’ ultimate goal is to compete for a championship, and while Redick has shown promise, he must demonstrate his ability to adjust in high-pressure postseason moments—something Ham did in his first season.

With LeBron nearing 40 and the Lakers banking on Luka Dončić as their future star, JJ Redick has a golden opportunity to prove himself as a premier coach. If he leads the Lakers to a deep playoff run, he will fully step out of Ham’s shadow and cement himself as the right coach for the franchise.