Few voices carry more weight in Lakers history than Pat Riley, and on a day meant to celebrate his own legacy, Riley made it clear he believes the franchise made the correct choice with JJ Redick.
Riley offered a strong endorsement of Redick, praising both his temperament and readiness to lead the Los Angeles Lakers into their next chapter, speaking during the ceremony unveiling his statue outside Crypto.com Arena.
“I love JJ. I really do,” Riley said. “I competed against him, my teams competed against him on various teams that he played with. He’s a fiery guy, could shoot the hell out of the ball, he was tough as nails. Sometimes I look back and I remember myself at that time and I look at JJ and I think they picked the right person.
“There’s just a quality about him I think that goes above and beyond and they have a hell of a team for him right here, right now with Doncic and Reaves and obviously LeBron. I think Rob will continue along with the new ownership to build that team and complement those players. But they have a great opportunity and I think JJ will be a great coach for them.”
The comments were notable not just for their praise, but for the context.
Riley’s statue unveiling served as a reminder of the standard he set in Los Angeles, where he guided the Showtime Lakers to multiple championships alongside legends like Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Comparisons between Riley and Redick have circulated since Redick was hired, with both men known for their intensity, confidence, and willingness to challenge star players.
Riley’s belief that Redick has “that quality” echoed those early assessments. The Hall of Famer also pointed to the roster at Redick’s disposal, highlighting LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves as a core that gives the new coach a real opportunity to succeed.
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