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JJ Redick Had Odd Request for NBA Over the Basketballs Used in Lakers’ Opener

Redick is leaving nothing to chance as Lakers coach.

Tim Capurso

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick during the second quarter of the season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday night.
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick during the second quarter of the season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday night. / Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images
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JJ Redick's attention to detail is second to none.

The Los Angeles Lakers coach, who made his debut pacing the sidelines in the Lakers' season-opening 110-103 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday night, watched as his club scored 72 points in the paint but shot just 5-of-30 from beyond the three-point line.

And Redick, a 41.5 percent shooter from beyond the arc in his 15-year NBA playing career, wanted to make sure that the Lakers controlled every variable possible surrounding their poor shooting performance. Even down to the wear and tear, or lack thereof, of the basketballs used in the season opener.

"In terms of the process of generating threes ... Look the paint was open the second half," Redick said. "We took, I think, 19 threes in the first half. Which is right on pace to where we want to be for our season average in terms of a full game. And we got great looks."

"And there was even some threes there in the second half that I thought were wide open, we just couldn't knock them down. I'm going to send in a request for the league tomorrow that we can play with worn-in basketballs."

Redick went on to explain his reasoning for such an unusual request.

"I'm not sure why we're playing in real games ... I'm being dead serious ... I'm not sure why we're playing in real games with brand new basketballs. Anybody who's ever touched an NBA ball brand new, it's a different feel and touch than a worn-in basketball."

Redick wasn't aware of the state of the basketballs until he grabbed a ball on the court after a long rebound during a timeout.

"I didn't realize it until a timeout. There was a long rebound and I grabbed it. I was like, 'What?! Why are we playing with this ball? Give the guys the opportunity to pick a good basketball.' "

"You think I'm joking. I'm neurotic," Redick said with a laugh.

Redick became just the 17th NBA head coach to assume the role without prior coaching experience. But call it being neurotic or attention to detail. If this is any indication, Redick will clearly leave nothing to chance as the Lakers coach.

Los Angeles gets a day off before a back-to-back against the Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings on Friday and Saturday, games that may or may not be played with worn-in basketballs.

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Tim Capurso
TIM CAPURSO

Tim Capurso is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Prior to joining SI in November 2023, he wrote for RotoBaller and ClutchPoints, where he was the lead editor for MLB, college football and NFL coverage. A lifelong Yankees and Giants fan, Capurso grew up just outside New York City and now lives near Philadelphia. When he's not writing, he enjoys reading, exercising and spending time with his family, including his three-legged cat Willow, who, unfortunately, is an Eagles fan.

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