Lakers’ J.J. Redick storms off after LeBron James, playing hard question: ‘I just did’

That nan remainder of nan Lakers couldn’t lucifer nan effort level of 39-year-old LeBron James connected Wednesday nighttime near first-year coach J.J. Redick rather perturbed.

Redick stormed retired of his postgame property convention aft being asked really he would reside that James displayed much effort than his teammates and that respective players needed to supply much pursuing nan 131-114 roadworthy nonaccomplishment to nan Grizzlies.

“I conscionable did,” Redick said aft speaking for much than 8 minutes.

He added while stepping away: “First point I said to them.”

While short clips did not supply overmuch discourse for Redick’s seemingly abrupt exit, nan erstwhile ESPN expert had spent his presser harping connected his team’s deficiency of effort.

He made it clear that James, who delivered a vintage capacity by scoring a season-high 39 points successful 35 minutes successful nan absence of Anthony Davis and Rui Hachimura, group nan barroom for nan night.

But for nan remainder of nan team, he said “none of america are” satisfied pinch nan effort. He mentioned his squad jogging backmost connected defense and not matching up, on pinch allowing easy points aft makes.

“I deliberation LeBron was awesome tonight. Biggest point that stood out. … He played hard,” Redick said. “Almost 40 years aged and played nan hardest connected our team. It says a batch astir him.”

Redick singled retired seasoned D’Angelo Russell, who played a season-low 22 minutes.

Russell received conscionable 6:06 of playing clip successful nan 2nd half, finishing pinch 12 points connected 4-of-12 shooting. He deed only 2 his 9 3-point attempts.

“Just level of compete, attraction to detail, immoderate of nan things we’ve talked pinch him astir for a mates of weeks and astatine times, he’s been really bully pinch that worldly and different times, it’s conscionable reverting backmost to definite habits,” Redick said of reducing Russell’s minutes successful nan 2nd half.

“But it wasn’t for illustration a punishment. It conscionable felt for america to person a chance to triumph this game, that was nan way we wanted to take.”

Wednesday’s conclusion concluded a 1-4 roadworthy travel for nan Lakers, which besides included losses to nan Suns, Cavaliers and Pistons and a triumph complete Raptors.

The Lakers started beardown by winning their first 3 games this season, but person precocious looked much for illustration nan inconsistent squad that galore projected them to beryllium this season.

“It goes backmost to choices. It’s thing we’ve discussed arsenic a group and you person a prime each nighttime for really you play, it has thing to do pinch making shots,” Redick said. “There’s sewage to beryllium a group of people, 7 to 8 guys, that make that prime and we’re a really bully hoops team. We sewage a handful, 2 aliases three, we’re not going to beryllium a bully hoops squad that night, that’s conscionable nan reality.

“That’s my biggest takeaway, to beryllium honest.”