Ex-Bulls Player Defends Lakers Coach JJ Redick's Controversial Moment

Out of every coach in the NBA, no one is under a greater microscope than Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick.

Redick may only be a first-year coach, but he was a highly controversial pick, is coaching both LeBron James and Luka Doncic, and is coaching the most popular franchise in all of basketball. It's been noted that Redick doesn't handle pressure well, and he showed fragments of that before Game 5 against the Minnesota Timberwolves this week.

Before Game 5 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Redick was furious with a question asked to him and left the pregame press conference.

JJ Redick STORMED OUT of his press conference after he was asked if he will lean on his assistants when it comes to fourth quarter substitutions tonight. pic.twitter.com/xDSMBxhFTL
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) May 1, 2025

While many across the league have scrutinized Redick, former Chicago Bulls guard Jay Williams disagrees with that assessment.

Via @RealJayWilliams: "JJ Redick didn’t storm out. He exposed the echo chamber show. The problem isn’t his temper — it’s a media culture that confuses ‘gotcha’ questions with journalism. Y’all begged for new voices in coaching… now you’re mad they’re not playing the old PR game."

JJ Redick didn’t storm out. He exposed the echo chamber show. The problem isn’t his temper — it’s a media culture that confuses ‘gotcha’ questions with journalism. Y’all begged for new voices in coaching… now you’re mad they’re not playing the old PR game. pic.twitter.com/IVSZ4lPmG2
— Jay Williams (@RealJayWilliams) May 1, 2025

In all honesty, it didn't feel like Redick was being set up for the "gotcha" question that Williams was suggesting. If anything, the reporter seemed a bit nervous in asking the question, and it came out of his mouth in a tone that it probably shouldn't have.

Brian Windhorst says JJ Redick coached in a very immature way

"Reggie Miller said on the broadcast last night he had to try to calm him down in the pregame meeting because JJ was acting, frankly, childishly."

(h/t @awfulannouncing )pic.twitter.com/fTsmY9c7hw
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 1, 2025

Regardless of the stance, Redick probably shouldn't have stormed out of the press conference and could have kept a calmer composure. There are far too many moments of seeing his anger come out.

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