Everyone said JJ Redick wasn’t qualified. Two years later, they look ridiculous

Nypost · May 13, 2026 · 966 words · By Michael Duarte

JJ Redick's Coaching Competence NBA Coaching Challenges Lakers Roster Management

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Daily briefing

What to know about JJ Redick's Coaching Competence

There is a certain amount of arrogance that you have to have when you become the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Claims checked 13

Techniques found 3

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center83%

Right17%

6 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

There is a certain amount of arrogance that you have to have when you become the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Why it matters

When the front office hands you the keys to basketball’s most glamorous franchise, the one draped in 17 championship banners and impossible expectations, you’re not allowed to have excuses.

Common ground

That is why what JJ Redick has done in his first two seasons as head coach of the Lakers deserves far more credit and respect than he’s getting nationally.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Exaggeration / Hyperbole, Oversimplification: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this JJ Redick's Coaching Competence story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that he had never coached before at any level? Not in college, not as an assistant, not in the G League?
How does this story connect JJ Redick's Coaching Competence with NBA Coaching Challenges over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/05/13/sports/how-jj-redick-proved-everyone-wrong-in-firs…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 3 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 90% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Exaggeration / Hyperbole 80% confidence

Overstating facts or claims to create a stronger emotional response.

Why it matters: Recognizing exaggeration / hyperbole helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Oversimplification 70% confidence

Reducing a complex issue to a simplistic framing that distorts understanding.

Why it matters: Recognizing oversimplification helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 13 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

info Single Source 4

help Insufficient Evidence 3

schedule Pending 3

check_circle Corroborated 2

verified Verified By Reference 1

info

Claim 1: “he had never coached before at any level? Not in college, not as an assistant, not in the G League.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence for this claim consists of irrelevant search results about a singer and CoComelon; no actual evidence regarding Redick's coaching history was provided in the search results.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Feb 23, 2020 · A new compilation video, including one of our most recent songs, "JJ Song"! Watch your favorite song by clicking a title below: 0:08 JJ Song 3:14 B-I-N-G-O 6:00 Old MacDonald Had a Farm…
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7s5i3a

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Johannes Pietsch (German pronunciation: [joˈhanəs ˈpiːtʃ]; born 29 April 2001 [1]), also known by his stage name JJ, is an Austrian singer. He won the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 for Austria with the…
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/JJ_(singer)

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — JJ Song | CoCoMelon Nursery Rhymes & Kids Songs with tags cocomelon, abckidtv, nursery rhymes, children songs, baby songs, kid songs, sing-along, sing-along songs, kids videos Its another wonderful mo…
https://kidvideo.org/video/jj-song-cocomelon-nursery-rhymes-…

info

Claim 2: “he won 50 games in Year 1.”

SINGLE SOURCE

Only one source (Yardbarker) explicitly states he won 50 games in his first season. Other sources mention he is one of four coaches to win 50+ in first two seasons, but this is not independent corroboration of the specific 50-win count for Year 1.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — In 2024, Redick was appointed head coach of the Lakers.In his first year at Duke University, Redick led his team with 30 points in their victory over NC State in the ACC Tournament championship game.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JJ_Redick

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Redick won 50 games in his first season with the Lakers, showing off his ability to game plan and adjust on the fly throughout the year. But in coming to the decision to hire him in the first place, i…
https://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/jeanie_buss_trusted_…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Lakers head coach JJ Redick spoke about the influences he had that ultimately led him to pursue NBA coaching.That also put Redick in rarefied air as only the fourth coach in Lakers’ history to have wo…
https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-…

help

Claim 3: “He guided them to the No. 3 seed in the West.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found after searching for the Lakers' seed under JJ Redick.

info

Claim 4: “Not since Phil Jackson had any Lakers head coach had back-to-back 50-win seasons”

SINGLE SOURCE

The evidence provided consists of dictionary definitions for the word 'No' and does not address the Lakers' coaching history.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — No is an English word that has a negative meaning. It is the opposite of the word yes, which is a positive term. No is used when someone is turning away something. It is also used when opposing an ide…
https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/No

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The meaning of NO is not. How to use no in a sentence.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/no

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — NO definition: 1. not any; not one; not a: 2. used in signs and on notices to show that something is not allowed…. Learn more.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/no

info

Claim 5: “Then he followed that with 53 wins in Year 2.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The evidence provided for this claim is completely irrelevant (referencing a singer and CoComelon).

travel_explore

schedule

Claim 6: “The reigning Champion OKC Thunder.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 7: “Hachimura shot 56.9% from three during the postseason”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 8: “a stunning 27-point performance in Game 1 of the first round series with the Rockets”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

check_circle

Claim 9: “the one draped in 17 championship banners”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources, including a Wikipedia snippet and FOX Sports, confirm the Los Angeles Lakers have won 17 championships.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The Lakers hold the record for NBA's longest winning streak, 33 straight games, set in 1971–72.[21] 26 Hall of Famers have played for Los Angeles, while four have coached the team.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_Lakers

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — how many nba championships have the la lakers won.NBA 2025-26 Rankings.
https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/how-many-nba-championships-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Los Angeles Lakers (17). Golden State Warriors (7). Chicago Bulls (6).Detroit Pistons (3). Miami Heat (3). Which players have won the most NBA championships? Bill Russell holds the record for most NBA…
https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/nba-champions-by-year-…

help

Claim 10: “Doncic and Reaves both went down with serious injuries on April 2”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found after searching for injuries to Doncic and Reaves on April 2.

check_circle

Claim 11: “He was gifted Luka Doncic in the middle of last season”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm Luka Doncic joined the Lakers, including Wikipedia and a report on a blockbuster trade from the Mavericks.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Luka Dončić (/ ˈluːkə ˈdɒntʃɪtʃ / LOO-kə DON-chitch; [1] Slovene: [ˈlùːka ˈdòːntʃitʃ]; born February 28, 1999) is a Slovenian professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luka_Dončić

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The highly anticipated debut of Luka Doncic with the Lakers came on Monday night against the Utah Jazz in a 132-113 victory in Los Angeles. Editor's Picks Inside the most chaotic, transformational ...
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/43787411/most-anticipate…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Luka Doncic was the center of attention in February, as the 26-year-old former Dallas Mavericks superstar was featured in a blockbuster trade sending him to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis.
https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/los-angeles-lakers/news/…

verified

Claim 12: “Redick inherited when he was hired back in the summer of 2024”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia explicitly states that in 2024, Redick was appointed head coach of the Lakers.

travel_explore

help

Claim 13: “JJ Redick has done in his first two seasons as head coach of the Lakers”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

The evidence indicates JJ Redick was hired in 2024 and has only played 'two preseason games' under his leadership, contradicting the claim that he has served for two full seasons.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Head coach. JJ Redick. Ownership.The Lakers had one of the worst seasons in team history in 1957–58 when they won a league-low 19 games.[43] They had hired Mikan, who had been the team's general manag…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_Lakers

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — More Los Angeles Lakers Pages. Year-by-Year Stats - Basic Stats.29 Coaches. Statistics shown are while coach was with franchise.
https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/coaches.html

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — In May, the Los Angeles Lakers fired head coach Darvin Ham after two seasons.Although Los Angeles has only played two preseason games (both losses) under Redick, NBA sources have told Hoops Wire that …
https://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/source_claims_lakers…

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.