JJ Redick’s transition from the broadcast booth to the Los Angeles Lakers’ head coaching chair was always going to be an ambitious one. Despite his elite basketball IQ, captivating communication skills, and deep understanding of the modern NBA landscape, Redick’s lack of prior coaching experience raised eyebrows. Still, the Lakers’ front office took a calculated gamble, pairing him with an experienced staff and backing his vision for player development, modern offense, and locker room chemistry. However, less than two months into the job, cracks are already forming beneath the surface, and a recent insider report has blown the lid off concerns many suspected but few were willing to say out loud: JJ Redick is already facing trust issues within the Lakers organization, and the futures of two core players—Deandre Ayton and D’Angelo Russell—have only added to the complications.
According to an NBA insider close to the team, some members of the Lakers locker room and staff are already questioning whether Redick is truly equipped to handle the egos, the pressure, and the political intricacies of leading one of the most scrutinized franchises in all of sports. The concerns stem not from his intelligence or preparation but rather from a perceived disconnect in trust between Redick and his key players. It’s not uncommon for first-time coaches to experience growing pains, but in the high-stakes environment of L.A., where LeBron James is still playing at an elite level and the championship window is shrinking, there’s little tolerance for anything less than instant cohesion.
Redick has reportedly faced difficulty in establishing firm trust with his newly inherited roster. A primary point of tension is his evolving relationship with D’Angelo Russell, the mercurial point guard who ended last season on a disappointing note. While Russell is still under contract and has expressed a desire to stay in L.A., there are growing whispers within the organization that Redick does not fully trust him to run the offense as the team’s primary floor general. Multiple sources indicate that Redick has shown a preference for incorporating more off-ball creation, leaning on incoming rookie Bronny James and free agent signee Spencer Dinwiddie to create diversity in the guard rotation. While that approach may be sensible on paper, it has reportedly left Russell feeling marginalized.
For a player like Russell—whose confidence is crucial to his rhythm and productivity—the lack of clarity from the coaching staff has created uncertainty. There have been no public blowups or visible signs of locker room discord, but several players have privately noted a subtle shift in Russell’s demeanor. His body language during off-season workouts, combined with cryptic social media posts, has added fuel to the fire. If Redick is unable to mend fences or at least redefine Russell’s role in a way that feels meaningful, a trade could be inevitable before the February deadline.
Deandre Ayton’s situation is even more delicate. Acquired in a bold offseason move that sent Anthony Davis to Chicago, Ayton was brought in to provide scoring versatility, rebounding, and youth at the center position. The gamble was high-risk, high-reward. On one hand, Ayton is a former No. 1 overall pick with 20-10 potential on any given night. On the other, his tenure with the Phoenix Suns was marred by questions about his motor, coachability, and engagement. It was expected that a change of scenery—especially to a franchise with L.A.’s pedigree—might unlock Ayton’s best self.
Instead, what’s emerged is a tug-of-war between expectation and reality. According to the insider report, Redick has expressed concerns behind closed doors about Ayton’s consistency in practice and his responsiveness to feedback. While the Lakers’ coaching staff has tried to encourage Ayton to anchor the defense and take on more vocal leadership duties, the early results have been mixed. Redick’s more cerebral, podcast-style approach to leadership—relying on strategy, dialogue, and video breakdowns—may not be resonating with Ayton in the way a veteran coach’s traditional methods might have. And unlike established stars who can self-regulate, Ayton’s confidence has always been closely tied to how empowered he feels within a system.
The result is a friction point where Redick wants more accountability and Ayton wants more trust. Sources close to the situation say there have been no major confrontations yet, but if the underlying tension isn’t resolved, the Lakers risk repeating the same mistake Phoenix made—failing to get the most out of Ayton’s rare blend of size, skill, and athleticism. Even more concerning is the long-term implication: if Ayton feels like Redick doesn’t fully believe in him, he may become disengaged, which could tank his trade value and create another failed big-man experiment in Los Angeles.
Layered on top of these individual player concerns is the broader locker room dynamic. Veterans on the roster—especially LeBron James and newly re-signed Austin Reaves—have reportedly remained neutral in the unfolding trust dynamics, but there is growing awareness within the team that not all is well. Redick’s staff has noticed that informal player meetings have started taking place without coaching presence, and while that’s not uncommon, it’s often a sign of players trying to recalibrate internally when they feel disconnected from the message at the top. The trust gap may not be gaping yet, but it’s clearly wide enough to warrant attention.
Front office executives, including Rob Pelinka, are believed to be monitoring the situation closely. Though they remain committed to Redick publicly, they understand that the experiment must work quickly or risk undermining a critical window. With LeBron turning 41 in December and a Western Conference that grows more competitive by the week, time is not on their side. That urgency is what’s fueling trade rumors involving Russell and exploratory talks about acquiring another veteran big man to either push Ayton or replace him altogether.
The internal question that no one seems to have a clear answer to is whether Redick will adapt fast enough. Coaching in the NBA is not just about X’s and O’s—it’s about people, politics, timing, and emotional intelligence. Redick has the cerebral qualities to out-think most coaches in the league, but the challenge he now faces is whether he can win hearts in the same way he won arguments on television. His perceived intellectualism, while refreshing, may be creating a distance between himself and players who are used to more visceral, boots-on-the-ground leadership.
What complicates things further is the dynamic with Bronny James. Redick has gone out of his way to support the rookie, praising his work ethic and maturity, and publicly defending him against criticism that his roster spot is purely nepotism-driven. But that public backing has also created an awkward undercurrent: some players feel that Bronny is being given more room to develop than other fringe rotation players would be afforded. Whether that’s accurate or not is beside the point—the perception matters, and perception is starting to eat away at trust.
As training camp looms, the Lakers are trying to project unity. There have been group workouts in Las Vegas, bonding activities organized by the team’s player development staff, and one-on-one meetings between Redick and key players to establish mutual goals. But if the underlying skepticism doesn’t dissipate, the Lakers risk going into the season with cracks that will only deepen under pressure. Redick must quickly figure out how to solidify his authority without alienating his stars, and he must do so while managing minutes, egos, and expectations in an unforgiving media environment.
There’s also the question of whether Redick might need to lean more heavily on his assistants—many of whom are seasoned veterans who’ve coached or played at the highest levels. If Redick’s strength lies in vision and analysis, delegation could be his saving grace. But delegating too much could also feed the narrative that he’s in over his head, further eroding player confidence. It’s a precarious tightrope, and few first-time coaches have ever had to walk it under this level of scrutiny.
Ultimately, the pressure isn’t just on Redick—it’s on everyone. On Russell to prove he can be a stable playoff performer. On Ayton to show that he can thrive in a demanding market. On LeBron to continue defying age. And on the Lakers organization to prove that its bold coaching hire was visionary, not naïve. The stakes are enormous, the expectations sky-high, and the margin for error razor-thin. If Redick can survive this baptism by fire and emerge with his locker room intact, he will have earned the respect of a league that currently watches his every move with skeptical fascination. But if the trust issues linger and the season starts off rocky, it won’t just be the players under the microscope—it’ll be the coach who was supposed to lead them into a new era.
