Charles Barkley Shown Real Culprit Behind JJ Redick & Lakers’ Misery as Rob Pelinka Makes Narrow Escape
via Imago
“You’re just a dead man walking” was Charles Barkley’s response when JJ Redick comments on the NBA ratings discussion. The beef between the Lakers Head Coach and Chuck has been going back and forth for a while now. Barkley’s heated response traced back to remarks Redick shared during a pregame media session last month. As reported by The Athletic‘s Sam Amick, the Lakers’ head coach pointed out that basketball storytelling feels underappreciated these days. He also called for the sport to receive the kind of celebration it truly deserves.
And now other people are weighing in on how they feel about the feud. Stephen A. Smith didn’t hold back on his podcast as he shared his thoughts on the ongoing beef between Redick and Sir Charles, along with some pointed criticism directed at a certain Lakers star.
First, Smith defended Redick’s coaching efforts with the Lakers, stating, “I don’t think JJ Redick is doing a bad job. They’re 20 and 16. Their top six seed in the Western Conference.” Smith credited Redick for managing a roster that lacks depth, adding, “If he had better talent, he’d do better.”
However, Smith highlighted the unfair comparisons to previous Lakers coaches like Darvin Ham, who achieved significant success under tougher circumstances. “Ham got them to the Western Conference Finals in his first year despite injuries. They even won the in-season tournament this year,” he noted, implying that Redick’s challenges aren’t unique.
Smith then shifted focus to LeBron James, accusing him of undermining Ham by hosting Redick on his basketball podcast. “How the hell you gonna have a podcast about basketball… with JJ Redick, knowing you wanted your coach Darvin Ham out?” Smith asked, calling it disrespectful.
He further compared LeBron’s actions to “spitting in someone’s face and saying it’s raining,” making it clear that the optics of such moves hurt team cohesion. Hmm, when have we seen a star dictating a franchise’s decision not playing out quite right? James Harden at the Rockets? Or Allen Iverson at the 76ers?
Since their December 29 trade, the Lakers have gone 2-3, slipping from fourth to tied for sixth in the West. They wasted a golden chance to overtake a shorthanded Dallas Mavericks team without Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. “It sucks,” LeBron James admitted, reflecting on how the team let their momentum fizzle.
The Lakers’ recent struggles highlight familiar issues. Houston ran circles around them in transition, dominated the paint, and exposed their lack of physicality. Dallas, meanwhile, targeted defenders like Austin Reaves and Dalton Knecht in isolations, exploiting mismatches.
Redick sounded just as baffled as fans watching the defensive breakdowns. “I’d never seen us try to execute what we were doing,” he said, clearly frustrated. Redick admitted he hadn’t reviewed the film yet, but even his assistants couldn’t make sense of the rotations.
To make matters worse, Jaxson Hayes’ defensive lapses have left the Lakers’ frontcourt in shambles. They’re hoping Jarred Vanderbilt’s return will help, though Redick warned he’d ease back with limited minutes.
The inconsistency is maddening. One night, they look like contenders with Davis dominating, LeBron heating up after a cold stretch, and Reaves thriving. The next, they’re disengaged, losing games they should win.
Still, with seven home games ahead, there’s a chance to reset. “We’ve got another game in less than 48 hours,” LeBron reminded everyone. But for a team aiming for a championship, they’ve got to decide: Are they serious about contending or just along for the ride?
