It’s almost time. The Lakers have to put their ifs and buts behind and gear up for the fresh season. They haven’t made any notable changes to the roster in the offseason with the JJ Redick hire bizarrely being the only thing they’ve accomplished so far. So it’s safe to say, the front office has put all its faith in a 40-year-old inexperienced coach to win the championship. In this ironic situation, a Lakers legend, who plied his trade in the late 1980s, warned the debutant about the possible collapse of the Purple and Gold locker room.

JJ Redick didn’t just pop out of nowhere. To be honest, LeBron James and his podcast buddy had set it up well for the fans to have a glimpse of future player-coach interaction. While it’s clear that the King has already sealed a smooth relationship with his ‘coach’, there’s a big unfinished business. Addressing this, former Lakers player Byron Scott hinted at the “toughest part” of the coaching job.

The legend said, “The main thing when you take over a head coaching position in the NBA is, you got to have the respect of the players and if they don’t respect you, or they find out early that you don’t know what you’re doing, then all hell is gonna break loose.” 

While we already know that LeBron James has JJ Redick’s back, Scott felt that there’s another star player whom he has to focus on. The legend continued on Byron Scott’s Fast Break, “He has to develop one with AD as well.” While the legend emphasized that JJ’s job was to win over the player’s trust in the locker room, he might’ve shrugged it off his shoulder, with Bron already on his side.

It highly speculated after previous instances, like the public disagreements with Darvin Ham, that King James has a say in the top management and key decisions.

Will JJ Redick win over Anthony Davis’ trust?

Around the time when the Lakers hired JJ Redick, there was a threatening speculation looming in the air. ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins speculated that Anthony Davis might quit the LA fold if the team doesn’t rope in Rojan Rando or a reliable face into the coaching unit. He continued, “If JJ Redick is not thriving and Anthony Davis is not playing at an elite level and he’s not happy, I wouldn’t be surprised if he wants out of LA. I’m gonna give it ’til All-Star break.” 

However, the rumors vanished into thin air without any further development. And, LBJ and AD paired up in the Paris Olympics and it ultimately put an end to any rift whatsoever. Moreover, Byron Scott also praised JJ Redick amid his streak of criticism and doubts. In the same podcast, Scott said, “Personally, I’m hoping that he does well because I think he has a very good basketball pedigree. I think he knows the game.” 

Moments after criticizing the Lakers’ front office for hiring an inexperienced coach, the legend manifested that the former NBA star would bring out his best in his coaching stint. That was mainly because of the support staff Rob Pelinka has surrounded the debutant with. Nate McMillan is a thoroughly experienced veteran who’s headed 4 franchises alongside Scott Brooks, who spent his last three seasons in Portland. Together, Brooks and McMillan have got 2,363 games of head coaching experience.

Do you think JJ Redick will make the necessary impact? Let us know in the comments.