Shoot the f**king ball — JJ Redick’s words to LeBron James have made his command as a coach clear. This, however, was not as evident to everyone prior to this instance and some others. In fact, some, like Kevin Garnett, were concerned about Redick’s credibility as a first time coach in a star-studded lineup of the LA Lakers. In a recent episode of KG Certified, the former Boston Celtics star opened up about this concern. And how it emerged from his own experience with Jason Kidd.

“My biggest question mark with JJ Redick was, you know, the players’ respect… I wanted to see what the respect level with JJ Redick and the playoffs was going to be…” Garnett said. He took it a step further, recalling his experience under Jason Kidd’s coaching.

Back then, Kidd faced similar questions that Redick now recently faced. The question was if Kidd would be able to handle a group of veterans that included Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Joe Johnson. And Garnett reacting “What the f*ck” to Kidd ordering him and others to “get on the line” shows why KG would be concerned about Redick.

But, here’s the thing—JJ seems to have a plan, and it’s working. He’s focused on making Anthony Davis the Lakers’ central weapon, and Davis has been delivering. With an impressive 31.8 points per game on 57.3 percent shooting, Davis is thriving under Redick’s direction. Not bad for a coach who’s still getting his feet wet.

And it’s not just the stats—Redick is winning people over with his work ethic and hands-on approach. Just ask Baron Davis.

“Just ran into @jj_redick at the Car Wash. He had the Laptop watching film!!!! Players coach!!! Lakers in great hands,” Davis wrote on X. Yes, you read that right. Redick was cramming in extra game analysis wherever he could.

Will this passion will translate into long-term success? The Lakers’ 3-0 start suggests just the right direction. Notably, this was the first instance since 2010-11 season that the Lakers had a 3-0 start to a regular season. Clearly, JJ’s drive, the respect he has from the players, and strategic focus on Davis are a winning combination. Only time will tell if Redick can sustain this momentum. But for now, the Lakers seem to be in capable hands.

JJ Reddick loses his cool at LeBron James

If you caught the last matchup between the Lakers and Phoenix Suns, you likely saw the heated moment that has everyone talking—Lakers’ coach Redick losing his cool at none other than Bron. James’ struggle to find his rhythm that night was evident. He finished with just 11 points, the lowest among Lakers starters, and shot a rough 3-for-14 overall.

The moment in discussion happened in the second quarter, with the shot clock ticking down, when LeBron seemed hesitant with an open look. In a rare moment of frustration, Redick shouted from the sideline, “Shoot the f**king ball!”—a direct and unmistakable plea for action.

Now, since his hiring in June 2024, JJ has shown he’s not about tiptoeing around anyone, even if it is one of NBA’s biggest legend. Redick’s job is to get the best out of this team and that includes LeBron—even if it means getting loud when it counts. Remember, Redick and LeBron weren’t just coach and player last year—they co-hosted Mind the Game podcast. Many wondered if that dynamic would make it tricky for JJ to coach LeBron effectively.

However, JJ announcing that he will no longer be a part of the podcast as long as he’s the Lakers’ coach made his intentions clear-he’s here to lead the team with complete honesty and focus. This somewhat answers the concerns that Kevin Garnett had on KG Certified.