LeBron’s non-playing role revealed by Redick: a new coach on the horizon?
The Los Angeles Lakers coach has given fans a sneak peek into LeBron’s role behind the scenes.
For the first time in his 23-year career, LeBron James missed a season opener, sitting out due to sciatica. However, dressed in a tailored suit and taking notes from the sideline, the NBA legend acted more like a strategist than a spectator. According to Lakers head coach J.J. Redick, his postgame analysis was “really helpful” in identifying what went wrong.
The Lakers’ problems were plain to see for the groaning fans in the stands. Their transition defence faltered repeatedly, allowing Golden State’s shooters far too much room to operate.
Offensively, Los Angeles didn’t help themselves either, connecting on only eight of 32 three-point attempts and committing 20 turnovers. The third quarter proved decisive, as the Warriors turned a tight contest into a runaway with a 35–25 surge.
LeBrons suit genuinely looks perfectly tailored at the Laker game😭😭 pic.twitter.com/jRpPdeizpb
— Chris (@PlayoffChris23) October 22, 2025
“Having a back-and-forth is so healthy”
“We did a poor job of locating the lasers in transition, which was a point of emphasis of our defense,” Redick admitted. “Buddy Hield got two [3-pointers] off in the second half. Steph got one right in front of our bench in the first half.”
“That was literally the second priority of the game, was locating those guys in transition. So, clean that up and again talk through that. ... All of us kind of talked about that in film.”
However, as for LeBron’s non-playing role, Redick revealed that “I told them him asking questions, him giving his input, us having a back-and-forth is so healthy. I would like to have dialogue and back-and-forth and questions every single time we do film and teach. You got a question, speak up. If you want to make a point, speak up. It was good.”
LeBron 👑 pic.twitter.com/L4mn3Pu0VK
— NBA Latam (@NBALatam) October 22, 2025
Related stories
The Los Angeles Lakers’ next game is on Friday, October 24, 2025, at 10:00 PM ET when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. They’ll then visit the Sacramento Kings on Sunday, October 26, 2025, at 9:00 PM ET, before returning home to play the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday, October 27, 2025, at 10:30 PM ET.
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
Complete your personal details to comment