Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell (1) and Los Angeles Lakers forward Dalton Knecht (4) in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP- Photo). /Nikki Boertman)
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Lakers have replaced D’Angelo Russell with Cam Reddish in their starting lineup in an attempt to shake up the struggling team.
Russell started the game on the bench for the first time this season as the Lakers took first place Friday night against Philadelphia in their first game back after a 4-1 road loss.
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Russell got off to a slow start under rookie coach JJ Redick, managing just 12.0 points and 5.8 assists per game. The offensive-minded point guard hit just 37.5% of his shots while appearing passive at times on both ends of the court.
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Redick benched Russell in the second half of the Lakers’ loss at Memphis on Wednesday night after Russell made a handful of questionable decisions. Redick said Russell played well at times but was also guilty of “just reverting to certain habits” this season.
In a moment that was widely replayed on social media, Redick twice slammed his chair on the sideline in frustration immediately after a mistake by Russell. Redick said Friday that his frustration wasn’t directed specifically at Russell, but at the Lakers’ “25 games” — and the coach made sure Russell knew that in a pregame meeting.
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“Basketball is an emotional game,” Redick said. “I am a competitive person. I am a passionate person. Sometimes you lose control of these emotions for a short time. It’s not the first time it’s happened. Maybe this is the first time something like this has happened on Twitter, but it will happen again. It can happen in two hours. That’s just the reality. …I’m not a zombie. That’s what we call passionate, non-competitive, non-expressive people.”
Redick gave no indication that he would make any changes to the Lakers’ starting lineup during his pregame availability on Friday. The change likely means Russell can play in LA’s second unit with more offensive freedom rather than waiting for shooting opportunities while LeBron James and Anthony Davis are on the floor with the starters.
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Reddish has played in just three games for Los Angeles this season, averaging 5.0 points. He has played solid wing defense, an area the Lakers have been lacking in their dismal journey.
Redick is only eight games into his coaching career, but the longtime NBA guard is already drawing attention for his demonstrative personality. He ended his postgame press conference in Memphis by dropping the microphone and abruptly leaving the room.
Redick says he has no regrets about being himself in his new job — and his frustration with the Lakers’ poor journey only increased his excitement for the long road ahead.
“It reinforced to me that I was a masochist,” Redick said. “And by that I mean I’m actually more happy now that we had some problems. I mentioned growth opportunities. That’s what it’s all about, man. That’s why I wanted to coach. Not that we can eat strawberries and ice cream every day. Anyone can do that.”
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