Back in the summer of 2024, everyone wanted JJ Redick to reject the Lakers’ job. But former Timberwolves star Rashad McCants showed his full support for Redick. Now as the Lakers’ struggle continues, McCants has done a complete U-turn. After their disappointing 102-116 loss to the Clippers, McCants had some scathing words for Redick—turning a once-supportive stance into a fiery critique.

McCants shared a post-game clip of JJ Redick from Lakers 102-116 defeat to Clippers on his X account. Alongside the clip, he wrote, “He is crashing out in real time!!! He was not ready. I was wrong. He not the guy. Fu-k Dook!!! Lmaoooo 😂😂😂😂😂 soft as cotton lol.”

So, why such harsh criticism? In the clip, Redick didn’t exactly take responsibility for his team’s struggles. Instead, he praised the Clippers and claimed the Lakers had done well, saying, “Our guys competed, we fought, we stayed together. You know, this is for us like… this was a good process for us. Didn’t get the result we wanted, did some really good things in the second half.”

When further pressed on what it would take for the Lakers to find their rhythm, Redick gave another puzzling response, stating, “I think we are growing, and we all know that during the growth process you have some bumps, and that’s okay. Our group is… we’re together and connected.”

However, the game itself wasn’t pretty. The Lakers trailed by 15 points at halftime, thanks to a lackluster start. Although they picked up steam in the second half, the damage was already done.

Even LeBron James admitted their shortcomings, saying, “That’s how our team is constructed. We don’t have room for much error.” And while James insists they must strive for near-perfect basketball, it’s clear Redick has plenty of work to do to regain trust—not just from fans but also from former allies like McCants.

What McCants supported JJ Redick initially?

Back in June, 2024, Gilbert Arenas sparked an interesting conversation about coaching opportunities, pointing out that the Lakers were a prime spot for any rookie head coach. “You got to start somewhere. God damn it, I guess I rather start with the purple and gold,” he said on Gil’s Arena.

Rashad McCants and Kenyon Martin also chimed in, hyping up JJ Redick as someone equipped with the intangibles to become one of the best. Arenas highlighted how sitting on the bench often changes a player’s mindset, making them see the game through a sharper lens.

Interestingly, Arenas mentioned how some bench players “talk about everything but basketball” instead of strategizing to make an impact. This leads to a lack of connection when they’re on the floor. McCants agreed, saying that mindset separates good players from great ones.

However, McCants shared a unique perspective on Redick’s approach. “I’m looking at JJ as a guy that was like that when he wasn’t in the game. He wasn’t participating in the bulls-it conversation,” he said during the Gil’s Arena livestream. Instead of engaging in meaningless chatter, Redick stayed focused—a trait McCants admired.

McCants expressed Redick preferred analyzing plays to himself, crafting his own insights rather than relying on superficial talk. And with LeBron James and Anthony Davis leading the roster, Arenas pointed out that Redick has more tools than most new coaches to succeed.

But right now, the Lakers’ situation is anything but that.