‘I Wanted To Know What He Was Going To Be Like Post-LeBron James’ — NBA Champion Names Lakers HC JJ Redick Early Coach of the Year Pick
· Yahoo Sports
Kendrick Perkins had his doubts about JJ Redick after LeBron James left the Los Angeles Lakers over the offseason. But just 13 games into the 2026-27 NBA season, the third-year coach has already won him over.
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With the Lakers off to a league-best 11-2 start, the 2008 NBA champion named Redick his early Coach of the Year pick, praising his ability to get the most out of his new-look roster even when Luka Dončić or Austin Reaves sit out.
Kendrick Perkins Credits JJ Redick for Lakers’ Buy-In Post-LeBron James
While Redick guided LA to 50-plus wins in each of his first two seasons and proved himself to be a sound X’s and O’s coach, some still had reservations given his star-heavy rosters.
James has since joined the Philadelphia 76ers, with the Lakers integrating a largely new rotation around Dončić and Reaves. Walker Kessler has taken over at center, with Sandro Mamukelashvili also handling minutes in the middle, while Ziaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle occupy the wing spots and Collin Sexton and Quentin Grimes round out the backcourt.
LA hasn’t skipped a beat thus far, winning seven straight games to assume the NBA’s top record through 13 outings, with Perkins taking notice of Redick’s leadership.
“If I had to pick somebody in this short season, JJ Redick would win Coach of the Year,” Perkins said on Thursday’s edition of the “Road Trippin’ Show.”
“Because I didn’t say it out loud, but I was watching his [expletive]. I wanted to know what he was going to be like post-LeBron James. … He’s pulling out the best of what he got. Luka and Austin Reaves go down? No problem, come here, Collin Sexton.”
Perkins hailed the Lakers’ team-wide efficiency, with seven of their 10 leaders in minutes per game shooting at least 48% on the season, crediting Redick for their buy-in from Day 1.
“When you look at the rest of those guys’ numbers on the squad, all of them are shooting a high percentage, playing excellent basketball,” Perkins added. “And when I see that they’re actually competing on both ends of the floor, JJ has the attention and the ears of that locker room.”
Despite replacing James, a 22-time All-Star, with Kessler and an assortment of role players, LA boasts the league’s No. 1 offensive rating (121.6). Dončić (38.6 points per game) and Reaves (24.7 ppg) are each delivering career-best scoring production, while Kessler’s interior presence and the influx of wing depth and backcourt creation have been welcome additions.
Redick and Co. will look to extend their winning streak to eight games against the Phoenix Suns (5-6) on Sunday. Dončić is dealing with a right ankle tweak, while Reaves’ status (heel) also remains uncertain after both stars suffered injuries in Wednesday’s 123-112 road win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.