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Lakers News: JJ Redick Reveals Starting Lineup

Jul 2, 2024; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick at a press conference at the UCLA Health Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

While Lakers fans may have to wait for the team to take the floor, they no longer have to wait to find out who will be starting for them next season. Head coach JJ Redick revealed the answer in a recent interview, and the Laker faithful may be pleased with the results. 

Lakers News: JJ Redick Reveals Starting Lineup

A Familiar First Five

In an appearance on “The Lowe Post” podcast, Redick told ESPN’s Zach Lowe that he “settled” on a starting five of D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Rui Hachimura and Anthony Davis.

This is the same starting group that Darvin Ham found eight months into the Lakers’ season. It’s also one that fans had clamored for time and again, and Redick has delivered it to them with no questions asked.

In explaining his decision, Redick said:

“It’s funny, because I think when people hear that in regards to LeBron playing off the ball, it doesn’t mean he’s not gonna have the ball. LeBron is one of the smartest players and I think using him as a screener and finding ways to get him the ball in specific spots on the floor where he can be a facilitator and scorer, that’s what I mean by being off the ball. I don’t mean LeBron is gonna walk the ball up and get ball pressure at 94 feet and run a high pick-and-roll every time. That’s not how we’re gonna play. I think in terms of what the offense is gonna look like, there will be a decent amount of movement. The shot profile will hopefully improve. We’ve talked about ways to get more paint touches. We’ve talked about ways to shoot more 3s. We’ve talked about some of the leeway you have to give certain players with midrange shots, whether that’s in the post or isolation. But hopefully the shot profile improved.

“I think from a possession standpoint, one of the margins this team created last year and historically with this group has been free throws. Outside of that, there hasn’t been a lot of margin creation so we’re gonna try to create some margins, one of which is we’re really gonna emphasize offensive rebounding and corner crashes. So yeah, I’m not comparing that to a previous coach or system, but those are some of the things that will look like a team that I coach.”

If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It

This group’s success goes beyond the successful record. In 25 regular season games played together, they put up nearly 39 points per game on .549/.367/.779 splits. They also pulled down 14 rebounds and dished 11 assists per contest, along with two steals and two blocks. They also tallied an offensive rating of 116 and a defensive rating of 110.5 in 389 total minutes.

Looking beyond the numbers, the group boasts the ideal blend of size, shooting and defense, able to go toe-to-toe with other contenders. That was most evident during their run in February, where they went 9-3 overall in a gauntlet filled with eventual postseason contenders. And while James and Davis are the clear targets, other members of the group have had their moments as well. Russell put up 30 points with six threes against the Pelicans on Feb. 9. Hachimura scored 29 points on 13/17 shooting against the Kings on Mar. 6. And Reaves once led the starters with 28 points against the Kings on Mar. 13. It all goes to show that even with LA’s superstar duo, Redick certainly has options who can step up when needed.

First Ten Lakers Games in 2024-25

The Lakers began last season with a 5-5 record, with Taurean Prince and Cam Reddish given the starting nods. Though the team was able to get to .500 quicker than expected, they often struggled to keep it that way as the season went on, falling below .500 in January and struggling to recoup until Ham found the perfect lineup.

This time around, things could be different under Redick, though the schedule may not be easier—with four playoff teams in the mix.

While most of those teams are poised to repeat their playoff success, only a few of them made significant changes this summer—with Philadelphia adding Paul George and Sacramento bringing in DeMar DeRozan. The return of Ja Morant could make Memphis dangerous again, too.

Again, this lineup has proven their worth against those teams and more, and they’ve been battle tested enough to succeed against them in the future. However, it’s important to remember that anything can happen, and it will still take time for this group to adjust to a new system. Judging by Redick’s comments, even with the group’s experience and familiarity, they will have a different playing style under an innovative head coach. It’s all part of an exciting new era, as Redick leads the charge of bringing the Lakers back into championship contention.

Jordan Pagkalinawan

Jordan Pagkalinawan

Jordan Pagkalinawan is a journalism student at Emerson College who serves as an editor and Lakers writer for Last Word on Sports. He previously interned with CBS Sports, writing stories for their editorial team. Jordan covers Emerson's Div. III athletics through print and broadcast media, and aims to translate those skills towards a career in covering professional sports.

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