NBA
LA Lakers starting five for the 2024-25 season confirmed
Coach J.J. Redick announced his starting five on a podcast and revealed his rationale for choosing those players during a press conference.
The Los Angeles Lakers will kick off the 2024-25 NBA season with an opening night matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena. New head coach J.J. Redick has already settled on his starting five.
Redick, speaking on The Lowe Post podcast with journalist Zach Lowe, revealed the starting lineup for the upcoming season. The guards will be D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves, with Rui Hachimura joining LeBron James at forward. Anthony Davis will anchor the lineup as the starting center. The rest of the rotation will feature Gabe Vincent, Max Christie, Cam Reddish, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Jaxson Hayes, along with rookies Bronny James and Dalton Knecht.
Lakers’ “Top 5 defense”
In a press conference held by head coach J.J. Redick and general manager Rob Pelinka, Redick explained the reasoning behind his choices for the Lakers’ starting lineup.
“I like the fact that when they played together last year, the team went 23-10. Essentially, they were a Top 5 defense,” said Redick. “I really like the size, particularly with the interior players like Rui, LeBron, and AD. I’d say Austin [Reaves] is a taller-than-average two-guard. The versatility is key because there are three players who can bring the ball up the court […] which is important for some of our offensive systems that require players to be off the ball.”
During the 2023-24 season, the lineup of James, Davis, Russell, Reaves, and Hachimura was the most frequently used in the regular season. Under coach Darvin Ham, this group logged 388 minutes and 36 seconds together, and their point differential per 100 possessions was +6.7, according to Basketball Reference.
Redick praises Anthony Davis
Although LeBron James is one of the greatest players in NBA history, J.J. Redick believes that Anthony Davis has something very special, thanks to his ability to do it all on the court at 6′10″ (2.08 m) and 253 pounds (114 kg).
“I think we not only have one of the best players in the world, but also one of the most unique players in the world in Anthony Davis,” the coach explained. “There are very few people who can do what he does at his size. His ball-handling, his offensive skill set, and, without question, the fact that he’s one of the best defensive players in the world.”
Davis finished last season as a member of the NBA All-Defensive First Team and was fourth in the voting for Defensive Player of the Year. He averaged 12.5 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, and 2.1 steals per game, underscoring his elite defensive presence.