Redick dismissed comparisons with Pat Riley, and credited the legendary basketball figure for paving the way for coaches in the modern era.
In the wake of the unveiling of Pat Riley's statue by the Los Angeles Lakers, JJ Redick finally broke his silence about past comparisons that linked him to the legendary basketball figure.
Los Angeles Lakers / Schedule
Speaking in front of the media before the team's rivalry showdown with the Boston Celtics, Redick dismissed any narratives connecting him to the title-winning former Lakers coach.
"Didn't think much of the comparisons at the time," he said. "I think Pat, to me, set the standard for modern NBA coaches. I have always looked at the NBA in two distinct eras, and you can make the demarcation point either at the merger or in 1980–81, around the time Dallas joined as the 23rd team. To me, that marks the beginning of the modern NBA, right when the Lakers’ run in the ’80s started.
"Pat set the standard for what a modern NBA coach should be."
Riley was the charismatic brain of the "Showtime Lakers" era, spearheading the franchise throughout the 1980s decade with four NBA titles in seven Finals appearances.
Along with Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy, they transformed the Lakers into one of the most historic teams ever.
Before hiring Redick as their new head coach in 2024, reports surfaced that some within the Los Angeles organization viewed him as a "Pat Riley-like coaching prospect."
Since then, comparisons started swirling for both Redick and Riley.
Yet right now, the Lakers coach would rather focus on honoring the iconic Laker figure than dwelling too much on their similarities.
"It's a good-looking statue," Redick said. "We paused a little to make sure we got it right, and I thought it looked good."
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