JJ Redick on relationship with Doc Rivers: 'I don't carry beef with people'

JJ Redick sent shockwaves through the basketball world in February when he blasted Doc Rivers for refusing to take "accountability" for his Bucks going on a 3-7 run under his watch. At the time, Redick was still an analyst for ESPN, but a lot has changed since then. 

On Thursday, Redick, now the head coach of the Lakers, went head-to-head with Rivers' Bucks in a preseason game at Fiserv Forum. The Lakers won the bout, 107-102.

Ahead of the game, Redick was asked to address his relationship with Rivers, whom he played under for four years as part of the Clippers.

Redick revealed he reached out to Rivers after his outburst earlier this year, clarifying that he bore no ill toward his former coach. He did not apologize, but regretted the cadence with which he delivered his critique of the Bucks coach.

"I don't carry beef with people," Redick said, via ESPN's Dave McMenamin. "And I'm not going to get into the history of Doc and I's relationship right now. And I probably won't ever. He's fine in my book."

"After that 'First Take' appearance, there were a number of conversations that I had with people — both at ESPN and within the league — that provided a good amount of perspective," he added, "whether I had stayed in the media or whether I had pursued a coaching job. I will say this again, [I] regret my tone in that case. I've owned that and I regret my tone."

Meanwhile, Rivers said "you can never take it personal" when receiving criticism from former players.

On his end, Rivers recently was critical of the Lakers' treatment of former coach Darvin Ham by stating that "it literally makes no sense" that the franchise axed the coach who took them to the Conference Finals a year before. Ham joined Rivers' staff in Milwaukee after being dismissed by the Purple and Gold. 

The Lakers-Bucks matchups this season should be electric affairs due to all these side storylines. The inter-conference rivals will square off twice — March 13 in Milwaukee and March 18 in Los Angeles.