JJ Redick on criticism of Doc Rivers last season: ‘He’s doing well’

MILWAUKEE – As JJ Redick takes his first steps in the job transition from media personality to Los Angeles Lakers coach this preseason, he reminded us Thursday how his previous role could impact his new one.

As the Lakers played the Milwaukee Bucks, led by coach Doc Rivers, Redick was asked about his relationship with his former coach, for whom he played from 2013-2017 with the LA Clippers.

Redick, who worked as an NBA analyst for ESPN last season, sharply criticized Rivers during an appearance on First Take in February, when the Bucks were still struggling to find a rhythm after Rivers replaced Adrian Griffin during the season as head coach.

“I don’t carry any beef with people,” Redick said before the game. “And I’m not going to go into the history of Doc and I’s relationship right now. And I probably never will. He’s fine with it in my eyes.’

During the First Take segment, Redick offered an animated rant to the camera.

“The trend is always to make excuses,” Redick said at the time. “Doctor, we get it, taking over a team in the middle of a season is hard… but it’s always an excuse. You always throw your team under the bus… there’s never any accountability with that guy.”

Redick said he had thought about that segment and did not apologize for his message, but admitted he would have changed his delivery if he could do it again.

“After that ‘First Take’ appearance, there were a number of conversations I had with people – both at ESPN and within the league – that provided a lot of insight into whether I would have stayed in media or if I would have pursued a coaching job,” Redick said Thursday. “I’ll say this again, (I) regret my tone in that case. I owned that and I regret my tone.”

Rivers, who was entering his 26th year as an NBA coach and had the eighth-most coaching wins in league history, said any disagreement between him and Redick was “one-way street.” However, he added that it is not unusual for a coach and one of his players to disagree.

“Coaches coach and they flock to players,” Rivers said. “They really do that. They pour a lot of love into the players. And often that love is rejected. It’s just the way it is. Often because you decide to go in a different direction. You can never take it personally. You know You you did the right things for that player. Usually that player comes back later and understands it. And so it’s usually one-sided.’

Of course, Thursday’s coaching carousel connections didn’t end with Rivers and Redick. Darvin Ham, the coach who replaced Redick in LA, is now an assistant for the Bucks. Rivers said Ham experienced a similar public rift with some of his former Lakers players as training camp unfolded.

For example, during media day earlier this month, Lakers point guard D’Angelo Russell said the team was “on the run” at times last season. And there are more comments from players complimenting Redick’s structured approach, with an implied comparison to Ham’s staff.

“There are times when there is heartbreak for coaches,” Rivers said. “You know, Darvin has a little bit to do with that. He sees guys making comments now that he’s falling in. It’s not right, but that’s exactly what happens and it’s part of our job. We know we’ll go into that.”

Ham, who made his first public comments about his time with the Lakers after being fired following a 90-74 record in two seasons, focused on the positives of his time with the team.

“The state of the team when they hired me, until the day they fired me, I like to think it’s improved. And that’s all I care about,” Ham, who was hired by Rivers in June, said Thursday to ESPN. “I threw myself, heart and soul, into that team and tried to improve it from where it was, 33-49. And to get to the Western Conference finals in a year, the guys have to benefit financially. To keep that excitement going. If I’m going to do that next year, derailed by injuries, still manage to win the season tournament and reach the playoffs, I thank God every day.

“Again, I am very grateful. I wish that franchise nothing but the best. I am not mean, angry or bitter about anything. Some people have certain opinions and those are opinions, but when you really look at the facts, there is Not a lot for me personally I must say.