Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick abruptly ended a pregame press conference on Wednesday after facing pointed questions about his controversial lack of substitutions in Game 4 of the team’s first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Redick, in his first year as an NBA head coach, has been under fire since the Lakers’ narrow 116-113 loss in Game 4, a game in which he chose to play the same five players for the entire second half—LeBron James, Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and Dorian Finney-Smith.

Tense Exchange With Reporter Triggers Redick’s Exit

During the press conference ahead of Game 5, a reporter asked if Redick would consider leaning more on assistant coaches when making rotation decisions—implying that his Game 4 strategy may have lacked necessary input.

The question clearly struck a nerve:

Reporter: “Is there an assistant or someone that maybe you will lean on tonight to try to get other guys involved if the opportunity presents itself?”

Redick: “Are you saying that because I’m inexperienced? You think I don’t talk to my assistants every single timeout? … That’s a weird assumption.”

Redick exited the presser shortly after the exchange.

Lakers’ Lack of Depth and Fatigue Concerns Spotlighted

The criticism surrounding Redick’s Game 4 decision stems not just from the optics, but from how visibly fatigued the Lakers looked late in the game, especially while Anthony Edwards exploded for 43 points for the Timberwolves. The Lakers led for much of the second half, but wore down and faltered in the final minutes.

Only one player outside of the starting five—Gabe Vincent—played more than seven minutes. Both Jaxson Hayes and Alex Len remained unused, despite Minnesota’s massive size advantage with Rudy Gobert, who went on to dominate Game 5 with 27 points and 24 rebounds, eliminating the Lakers from the 2025 NBA Playoffs.

Redick’s Coaching Inexperience Under Microscope

Redick’s abrupt reaction and in-game decisions have reopened the conversation about whether the first-time head coach was ready for the high-pressure Lakers job. Prior to being hired, Redick had no formal coaching experience beyond youth basketball, having worked in media and podcasting after retiring in 2021.

Despite these concerns, Redick led the Lakers to a modest three-win improvement over last season. However, the playoff flameout and lingering tension between coaching, rotations, and depth now loom over the team’s offseason.

What’s Next for the Lakers?

The franchise heads into a turbulent summer with looming questions:

• Will LeBron James return or retire?

• Can Luka Dončić thrive under the current roster?

• Does Redick return, or does L.A. consider a new direction after one year?

Redick, reflecting post-Game 5, admitted, “I can get a lot better.” Whether that will be with the Lakers in Year 2 remains to be seen.