In their first-round matchup, the Los Angeles Lakers couldn’t keep up defensively with the Minnesota Timberwolves, losing the series in five games. JJ Redick’s decision to rely solely on his starters in a pivotal Game 4 has been widely criticized after it failed to deliver results.
Former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins didn’t hold back on ESPN’s “Get Up,” — blaming the Lakers’ first-round exit on Redick’s coaching.
“You damn right I’m blaming JJ Redick,” Perkins said. “You damn right. Mr. JJ Redick, I know more about basketball than anybody else in the word. Mr. JJ Redick, where the world is watching and can see that you need some type of size and athleticism on the floor when you’re going against a physical, lengthy Minnesota team who has Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, Naz Reid, Jaden McDaniels, that imposes their will in the paint.”
”But you still leave this small ball lineup out there on the floor and leave a 40-year-old senior citizen in LeBron James to battle in the trenches for a seven-game series that went five,” Perkins continued. “Listen, I just don’t understand it for the life of me. This is not about X’s and O’s and schemes. This was common sense.”
“You damn right I’m blaming JJ Redick.” 😯
—@KendrickPerkins on the Lakers’ series loss to the Timberwolves pic.twitter.com/c5DeGVgaSP
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) May 1, 2025
Redick’s first year as head coach is not off to a promising start, especially given his responsibility for both the team’s offense and defense.
The Lakers’ glaring weakness at the rim after trading Anthony Davis and ultimately backing off from Mark Williams only made matters worse.
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There’s a legitimate argument that Redick did not make necessary adjustments. However, it can’t be ignored that even top-tier coaching might not have changed the result of this series. LeBron James filling in at the center position at times highlights how urgent the Lakers’ situation had become.
With Luka Doncic in the mix, Redick will certainly have many chances to prove himself in the playoffs in the years ahead.
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