One of the biggest questions from Lakers fans about the hiring of JJ Redick was whether or not superstar LeBron James would actually listen to the rookie head coach. It is one thing if James is being barked at by a veteran coach with a few rings under his belt but another when it’s a rookie with no experience running a team.
After a close win over the struggling New Orleans Pelicans, Redick compared 41-year-old James to an aging pitcher in Greg Maddux that was still effective despite not having “his best stuff” every night.
Redick said, as quoted by The Sporting News, “I know LeBron, I know how much he puts into this. I think it’s just recognizing game-to-game what he has. He’s Greg Maddux at the end of his career. Every night he doesn’t have his best stuff, but he has enough to win, and I’m his catcher, so I’ve got to figure out how to call the pitch”.
“I’m his catcher. I’ve figured out how to call the pitches. Sometimes he tells me F off, he calls his own pitch. Which is fine too.”
— JJ Redick on LeBron James
(h/t @ohnohedidnt24)pic.twitter.com/h0xhXNxJig
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) January 7, 2026
We know that a player in his 40s, even one as talented as James, will not be at his best every night but he is one of the most intelligent players in NBA history and knows how to win. What was more concerning however was Redick admitting that James will sometimes “call his own pitch” in that he may disregard the coach’s instructions and do his own thing.
Redick continued, “Sometimes he tells me to f-off, and he calls his own pitch, which is fine too,” he continued. “But to me, it really is [figuring out] what’s the best way to utilize him tonight based on the opponent, based on the coverage, and based on how he’s moving”.
For most players this would be a massive concern because the coach needs to be the ultimate authority and he can’t afford to have players undermining him. If you take the negative outlook on this then that may be a valid concern for Lakers fans as this could become an issue in high-pressure situations in the playoffs.
On the flip side of it, this could simply be Redick building a relationship with a unique player in James who has seen and done it all in the NBA over his 23-year career. There is nothing Redick can teach James at this point and it’s more important for him to build trust and chemistry with his superstar. Allowing James to call his own plays and freelance at times is a small price to pay for having a player as great as he is on your team.
