The Los Angeles Lakers’ early season promise has quickly faded, revealing familiar challenges.
After a promising 3-0 start, the team now sits at 12-9, stuck in a .500 pattern with a 9-9 record.
The recent slide, losing five of their last seven games, has reignited doubts that seemed momentarily silenced during their initial success.
Three-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas didn’t mince words about head coach JJ Redick following a dismal 109-80 loss to the Timberwolves.
“It looked bad… JJ woulda got fired if it was up to me,” Arenas bluntly stated on his “Gil’s Arena” podcast.
Should the Lakers fire JJ Redick already? pic.twitter.com/fidLO2aWnq
— Gilbert Arenas (@GilsArenaShow) December 3, 2024
The current season bears an unsettling resemblance to last year’s struggles.
Despite hopes that Redick would bring a fresh approach after Darvin Ham’s inconsistent tenure, the Lakers’ record remains virtually unchanged after 21 games.
This stark similarity has fans questioning whether meaningful progress has been made.
The big difference, though, is that the 2023-24 Lakers stuck around in the NBA Cup, eventually winning the first-ever in-season tournament championship.
Meanwhile, Redick’s team is already out after losing to both the Phoenix Suns and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Ham’s leadership was marked by questionable in-game decisions, public criticism of players, and a lack of accountability that ultimately cost the team playoff positioning.
In contrast, Redick has approached the challenge with a more measured strategy, navigating a complex roster of aging and injury-prone stars.
It’s critical to recognize that Redick’s challenges extend beyond his own coaching abilities.
Managing a team with legendary players like LeBron James and Anthony Davis is no simple task for a rookie head coach.
The roster’s limitations and the pressure of expectations create a high-wire act that few could navigate perfectly.
