The Los Angeles Lakers notched their first preseason win this season, beating the Milwaukee Bucks 107-102. But more importantly, it marked JJ Redick’s first-ever win as an NBA head coach, a milestone for the former NBA player.
Redick’s coaching stint has been a welcome change for many Lakers fans. The rookie head coach has shown he’s serious about leading the team in the right direction and finding success in his new role.
Additionally, there’s a sense that Redick is earning the locker room’s trust, with players seemingly buying in and showing they’re ready to compete for him. Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht’s post-game reaction said it all.
While pleased with Redick’s first coaching win, Knecht didn’t get too carried away. He expressed confidence in the team’s ability to deliver more victories under Redick, even going so far as to predict a run in the NBA Finals in June.
“The first one is cool but he knows he’s gonna get a bunch of them. We’ll be there June 5th and get him some more.”
Dalton Knecht on JJ Redick’s first win as a coach:
“The first one is cool but he knows he’s gonna get a bunch of them. We’ll be there June 5th and get him some more.”
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) October 11, 2024
The Lakers find themselves somewhat pushed to the side as championship contenders this season. Given their lack of offseason moves and last season’s first-round exit, it’s understandable why.
Still, the Lakers return with almost the same core that reached the Western Conference two seasons ago, and this group has shown it can compete with nearly anyone in the West, perhaps with the exception of the Denver Nuggets. With a promising coaching staff now in place, who knows if they can finally overcome their biggest roadblock?
