Even though the LeBron James-led Los Angeles Lakers showed a lot of promise in past seasons, they weren’t able to finish the job and win another ring for the franchise. For All-Star big man Anthony Davis, though, JJ Redick has a plan for the team as its new head coach for next season’s campaign.
The 2023-24 season marked the second and final year with Darvin Ham as head coach, after he took over the team in June of 2022. The team got off to a flying start, going a perfect 7-0 in the inaugural In-Season Tournament and capturing the new NBA Cup in December of last year. This propelled them to the fourth seed in the West at 14-9.
However, the Lakers struggled mightily after their tournament success, eventually falling to 17-19 and the ninth seed by January of this year. They righted the ship down the stretch to finish with a 47-35 record and earned the eighth seed in the West. After defeating the New Orleans Pelicans in the Play-In Tournament, the Los Angeles faced the Nikola Jokic-led Denver Nuggets in the opening round, falling in five games. This marked the first time James had lost in the first round since 2021.
Ultimately, the Lakers’ uneven campaign led to the dismissal of the entire coaching staff, including Ham and longtime assistant Phil Handy during the offseason. Eventually, the front office hired Redick as the team’s new head coach after UConn Huskies’ Dan Hurley turned down the franchise’s offer.
All-Star Big Man Anthony Davis Gives a Glimpse of JJ Redick’s Plan for Los Angeles Lakers
Along with James’ excitement over having Redick as the Lakers head coach, Davis has also dropped a preview of what they’re going to do for next season. According to an article written by Ben Golliver for The Washington Post, the former Pelicans star is bound to have a bigger role for the team.
“[Redick] talked about me being the hub of the offense,” Davis said. “That will be different. We won’t know everything until [training] camp when we’re able to get on the floor. We want LeBron to shoot more threes. [Redick] wants to play fast and defend. From what he was telling me, I’m in total agreeance with what he has planned for us. … The goal at the end of the day is still to win a championship. You can’t skip steps.”
Last season, Davis defied expectations by staying healthy and playing 76 games for Los Angeles. During that stretch, he averaged 24.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 2.3 blocks per game.
It remains to be seen how Redick will make Davis the main guy on offense while integrating Bronny James into his system as a rookie. In any case, Lakers fans will have something exciting to look forward to for next season.
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