If there's one thing J.J. Redick has mastered this postseason, it's finding new ways to complain. The Lakers head coach unloaded a fresh batch of grievances Monday night before Game 4 against the Thunder, painting his star-studded team as perpetual underdogs. Spoiler alert: NBA fans aren't buying it.
Redick told reporters that playing for the Lakers means constantly feeling like your back is against the wall, thanks to the franchise's massive spotlight and media scrutiny. “I mean, being on the Lakers, you feel like your back’s against the wall every game. So I think the whole season has prepared us to be in a position where we’re in,” he said.
It's a tough sell, considering the Lakers boast LeBron James and a roster loaded with talent. Social media erupted with eye-rolls. “Ah yes the famous underdogs the Los Angeles Lakers, always playing basketball with their backs to the wall,” one fan scoffed. Another pointed out the irony: “Yeah, when you have the best free throw differential in the league by a wide margin, you always feel like your backs against the wall. God I can’t wait till these crybabies are gone after tonight.”
Redick didn't stop there. He took aim at the officials, claiming LeBron James gets mauled without drawing fouls. “Well, he gets clobbered on that one with Jaylin Williams trying to come over and block that shot,” Redick said earlier in the series. “LeBron has the worst whistle of any star player I’ve ever seen.”
He doubled down, arguing that smaller, more theatrical players get the benefit of the whistle while James gets hammered. “I’ve been with him two years now. There’s, again, the smaller guys, because they can be theatrical, they typically draw more fouls than the bigger players that are built like LeBron. It’s hard for them, that he gets clobbered. He got clobbered again tonight a bunch. That’s not like a new thing. That’s not specific to this crew or this series. He gets fouled a lot. Doesn’t happen.”
This isn't the first time Redick has griped about officiating. Earlier in the series, he joined a chorus of critics questioning the whistle after Game 2, which drew blistering takes from Jay Williams and fans who cried rigged. But with the Lakers down 3-0 and facing elimination, the complaints ring hollow.
The Thunder, the defending champions, have dominated the series, and the Lakers have no answers. Luka Doncic's absence—he's expected to miss the start of the second round—has only deepened the hole. That grim reality has left L.A. scrambling.
Tipoff for Game 4 is set for 10:30 p.m. ET. If the Lakers lose, Redick's whining will be the only thing left to talk about.
