Lakers coach J.J. Redick is in for an interesting season. Having stars like LeBron James and Anthony Davis comes with pressure, and some are concerned about the extra mileage the Olympics may have put on the stars. The Lakers coach says he has no concerns about LeBron and Davis being ready and in shape once the season starts.
Lakers Coach Says LeBron and Davis Will Be Ready for Opener
Redick thinks that LeBron and AD will be ready for the start of the season. Although the two stars both played an extra month of high-intensity basketball, the Lakers coach expects they will be ready. Redick mentioned on Spectrum TV’s Lakeshow Podcast that he isn’t concerned about LeBron or AD’s conditioning. He expects to see them both play in training camp and the preseason, and above all he knows “they’ll be ready to play on Oct. 22 and be in shape”.
Nobody doubts both of these players will be giving their all to start the season off on the right foot. The Lakers finished last season as the eighth seed in the Western Conference. Although they did win themselves a spot in the playoffs through the Play-In Tournament, their first-round exit against the Denver Nuggets was disappointing.
Anthony Davis said he’s likely to participate in the 2028 Olympics for Team USA.
The Lakers’ star, who will be 35-years-old at this point, would become a key veteran leader for the roster hosting in Los Angeles. pic.twitter.com/HaHy4CLQQE
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) August 11, 2024
LeBron and AD didn’t have much time to think about their early playoff exit. They joined Team USA in Paris and grabbed an Olympic gold medal. Davis averaged 8.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and a team-high 1.5 blocks per game in the Olympics. He was a key defensive piece for the Team USA roster. LeBron, who won the tournament’s MVP award, averaged 14.2 points and team highs 10.2 assists and 8.2 rebounds. He was the undoubted leader of the gold medal-winning team.
LeBron and AD Injury Concerns
LeBron James will turn 40 years old this season. The new Lakers coach won’t be the only familiar face joining LeBron with the Lakers this season, his son Bronny James Jr. was drafted by the Lakers this offseason. This shows just how old LeBron is getting, he will now share the floor with his 19-year-old firstborn.
Although he is certainly superhuman, Lakers fans worrying about the Olympic summer adding to LeBron’s mileage is a legitimate concern. Before joining the Lakers, James had only played less than 70 games twice in 15 seasons. Now as a Laker, he has only eclipsed 70 games once. Anthony Davis has only played over 70 games three times in his entire career.
Your New 2024 Lakers Head Coach
Frank Vogel and Darvin Ham are in the rearview mirror and NBA veteran and podcaster J.J. Redick is the new head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. Redick’s career was defined by his college play and his sharpshooting. As a Duke University villain, Redick was the all-time leading scorer in the school’s history. He was twice a first-team All-American, twice an ACC Player of the Year, and was the College Player of the Year once as well.
People nowadays don’t know JJ Redick was one of the best college players ever
pic.twitter.com/T3zoHaDbYH— Hoops (@HoopMixOnly) June 6, 2024
Drafted to the Orlando Magic with the 11th overall pick, Redick’s perimeter sharpshooting quickly found its place in the NBA. Although Redick was never a star, he held prominent roles on quality playoff teams like the Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers and was coached by legends like Stan Van Gundy and Doc Rivers. By the end of his 15-year career, the new Lakers coach was known as a cerebral and respected basketball mind. He now has his work cut out for him, coaching one of the most scrutinized teams in the league.
