Something’s brewing in Los Angeles again — and no, it’s not another reboot of The Office or a traffic jam on the 405. Behind the curtain of LeBron’s final chapter and Luka Doncic’s headline-grabbing entrance, there’s a quieter, sharper drama unfolding — and it centers around JJ Redick. With a roster that might’ve been held together by duct tape and dreams, Redick’s first season as Lakers head coach was anything but boring. But what he said after the dust settled? That’s where it gets interesting.

When JJ Redick took over as the Lakers’ head coach, a lot of people thought, Hey, he talks the game beautifully, surely he can coach it too. Well… turns out, going from podcast philosopher to full-time sideline general isn’t exactly plug-and-play — especially when your roster is more unpredictable than LA weather in April.

According to insider Daman Rangoola on the Jovan Buha podcast, JJ Redick wasn’t exactly singing “Kumbaya” behind the scenes. In fact, Rangoola hinted at some serious frustration boiling over, especially during the Lakers’ playoff series against the Timberwolves. Apparently, JJ tried to run the same five guys for an entire half — not exactly load management, is it? As Rangoola put it, “No matter how frustrated you are with the roster, you can’t play five players a full half… You just can’t be doing that kind of stuff.” Translation: the man was coaching like he was playing NBA 2K on “MyCareer” mode with a maxed-out player and four bronze benchwarmers.

Despite snagging Luka Doncic midseason in one of the wildest trade deadlines in recent memory, the Lakers still exited the playoffs in the first round — and not quietly. Minnesota’s gentleman’s sweep felt less like a defeat and more like a very polite eviction notice: Thank you for coming, your services are no longer needed. Luka tried. LeBron did what LeBron does. But the team still looked disjointed — like they were trying to freestyle jazz while playing in a marching band. The Lakers only managed to score more than 20 points in the fourth quarter once across five playoff games. Once. And not even in the one game they actually won. That’s not just a red flag — that’s a full-on carnival.

Redick’s frustration likely stemmed from more than just the fourth-quarter slumps. The Timberwolves, led by the surprisingly dominant Rudy Gobert (yes, that Rudy Gobert), casually put up 30+ points in two fourth quarters. The Lakers? They looked like someone pulled the batteries out halfway through the game.

JJ Redick Wants That Offseason Grind — And Not Just For the Players

In the end-of-season presser, JJ Redick didn’t throw anyone under the bus — but he didn’t exactly hand out gold stars either. When asked what needs to improve, his first answer was? Conditioning. “I’ll start with the offseason and the work required in an offseason to be in championship shape,” he said, sounding less like a coach and more like a Peloton instructor with receipts. He never named names, but the implication was clear: if the Lakers want to win 16 playoff games, they can’t look like they just sprinted up Runyon Canyon by halftime.

But JJ Redick didn’t stop there. He also turned the microscope on himself, which, honestly, is refreshing in an era where coaches are more likely to blame the mascot. “As a player, get on the plane, fly back, it’s quiet. You’re writing down everything you want to be better at. That’s no different as a coach,” Redick said. “That’s where my mind goes today, immediately is how can I be better.” The man is taking notes on himself like a dad reviewing his golf swing on vacation. Respect.

Rangoola added another layer on the podcast: JJ Redick is part of the Lakers’ continuity plan. Yes, the Lakers — the same franchise that’s changed coaches more often than Californians change phone numbers — are sticking with Redick, at least for now. It makes sense. According to Rangoola, “There’s not an unsteadiness. And I put all of that together in the continuity bubble.” Sure, Redick made rookie coaching mistakes (like playing a starting five like it’s 1973), but he also inherited a team mid-chaos, with sky-high expectations, aging stars, and Luka Doncic’s suitcase barely unpacked.

This offseason, Redick plans to self-evaluate, listen to his staff, and — hopefully — inject some tactical variety into the team’s game plan. The Lakers’ lack of defensive versatility was another issue pointed out: “They’d stick to one thing or one plan and just drill that down,” Rangoola noted. Redick now has the time, staff, and (maybe) the roster to change that.

So here’s where we land: JJ Redick, in just one season, has gone from podcast philosopher to coach under fire. He’s made mistakes, sure — but he’s owning them. He’s already talked about planning better, improving conditioning, and tweaking strategy. And most importantly, the Lakers seem to believe in him enough to run it back.

Whether JJ Redick turns this roster into a contender or just a better-conditioned disappointment remains to be seen. But if nothing else, he’s already delivered more intrigue, more quotes, and more self-awareness than most rookie coaches. Now, we just need to see if JJ Redick, the coach, can hit as many big shots as JJ Redick, the shooter. And if he does? LA might just get that Banner No. 18 after all — with fewer half-court collapses and a little more fourth-quarter fire.