Lakers Coach JJ Redick Adopts Calmer Leadership Style
Former Duke star says he learned that anger can distract players, a shift his mentor Mike Krzyzewski supports as part of Redick's ongoing growth.
By Mateo Thompson ·
Lakers head coach JJ Redick has changed how he manages his team, moving away from the anger that defined his playing career in favor of a calmer approach. The 42-year-old coach told the Southern California News Group that he realized during the 2025-26 season that some of the emotional tools that fueled him as a player became deterrents as a coach.
Redick stated that he learned calm is better for team performance. He noted that while he can function with anger, not all players can. He explained that if a coach relies solely on anger to hold players accountable, they may tune it out or react negatively. He prefers getting players clear-minded and focused on the assignment rather than riled up.
His former college coach, Mike Krzyzewski, supports this evolution. Krzyzewski, who coached Redick at Duke from 2002 to 2006, described Redick as someone who is always becoming. He said that because Redick is always evolving, he remains willing to listen, learn, and adapt. Krzyzewski noted that he used anger as fuel during his playing days, but he believes anger should help a team, not hurt it.
Krzyzewski emphasized that anger is a motivator and an emotion, but it must be channeled correctly. He said he is still maturing at age 79 and learns how to communicate effectively with people in the present. He and Redick share a friendship that predates their professional roles, with Krzyzewski saying they trust one another and do not beat around the bush. Their conversations often focus on personal well-being rather than game strategy.
Redick has had a strong start with the Lakers, becoming the first head coach since Phil Jackson to reach 50 wins in consecutive seasons. He is the 16th coach in NBA history to record 50-win seasons in his first two years. Only Pat Riley, Paul Westhead, and Butch van Breda Kolff had achieved this with the Lakers before him. The Lakers entered the weekend with a 7-2 record, ranking second in the league in points per game at 121.8.
The team’s defense ranks 17th, holding opponents to 113.9 points per game. Star guard Luka Doncic leads the offense with a league-leading 38.5 points per game, along with 8.1 rebounds and 8.0 assists. Redick said the job of a coach is to maximize the group and ensure people enjoy coming to work. He noted that he gets insight from studying other coaches, including Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay.
Krzyzewski said Redick’s competitive drive was not fully satisfied by his broadcasting career. He observed that Redick craves competition and loves the game of basketball. Krzyzewski was initially surprised when Redick said he wanted to coach, but the decision made sense given his lifelong competitiveness. He said Redick chose one of the most visible and tough coaching assignments in the league.
Redick’s path to the head coaching position was unconventional, coming after 15 years as an NBA player and several seasons as a broadcaster for ESPN. He retired in September 2021, which Krzyzewski said gives him empathy for his current players. Redick was teammates with Doncic on the Dallas Mavericks and played against five of his current guaranteed contract players. The Lakers face the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday at Crypto.com Arena.
