After the Los Angeles Lakers early playoff exit, JJ Redick shared his candid thoughts on the team’s performance. In an interview, Redick reflects on the challenges that led to the season’s end

Following the Los Angeles Lakers’ shocking early exit from the 2025 NBA playoffs, one voice in the basketball community stood out for its frankness and insight: that of former NBA sharpshooter and current analyst JJ Redick. Redick, known for his basketball IQ and unfiltered opinions, didn’t shy away from discussing the Lakers’ performance in his interview following their playoff elimination. He was candid about what went wrong for the Lakers, the challenges they faced throughout the season, and how they might approach their future.

The Lakers, after a roller-coaster season, were knocked out of the playoffs earlier than many expected, especially after some promising late-season additions. Despite having two superstars in LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the team found itself overmatched and out of sync when it mattered most. Redick’s comments provided clarity and depth to the Lakers’ struggles and illuminated the factors that led to their downfall.

The High Expectations and Early Hope

Heading into the 2025 season, there was no shortage of optimism surrounding the Lakers. The offseason additions of key role players, along with the veteran leadership of LeBron James and the defensive prowess of Anthony Davis, had the fanbase and analysts alike projecting a strong postseason run. The Lakers had also retooled their roster around their stars, addressing issues with depth, shooting, and perimeter defense, all of which had been glaring weaknesses in previous seasons.

LeBron, now in the latter stages of his illustrious career, showed few signs of slowing down. He had continued to be a force, averaging 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists during the regular season. Davis, when healthy, was dominant, particularly on the defensive end. The supporting cast was solid, with additions like D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, and Malik Beasley providing the necessary shooting and spacing around the two superstars.

It was a season that, on paper, seemed to promise a deep playoff run. However, as JJ Redick pointed out in his interview, the Lakers never fully clicked during the regular season, and their playoff performance further exposed their vulnerabilities.

JJ Redick’s Analysis of the Lakers’ Playoff Shortcomings

When discussing the Lakers’ playoff exit, Redick did not mince words. He pointed to several key areas where the team fell short, and his analysis painted a picture of a team that, despite all its talent, had fundamental issues that held them back.

1. Inconsistent Health and Availability

The first issue that Redick highlighted was the continued struggle with injuries, particularly to Anthony Davis. Throughout the 2025 season, Davis, while playing at a high level when available, continued to battle nagging injuries that kept him in and out of the lineup. LeBron James, though generally healthy, also dealt with some wear and tear as the season progressed, further adding to the team’s inconsistency.

For a team that depended so heavily on its two superstars, this lack of availability proved costly. As Redick noted, the Lakers were never able to build sustained chemistry or cohesion because their two best players were rarely on the floor together for extended stretches. In the playoffs, where every possession counts, the lack of health hampered the team’s ability to match the intensity of their opponents.

While LeBron’s leadership and ability to carry the team were evident, Redick emphasized how much the Lakers needed a fully healthy Davis. “Davis has to be the guy,” Redick said. “When he’s right, he’s one of the top players in the league, but when he’s in and out of the lineup, it hurts the entire team’s rhythm.”

2. Offensive Inefficiency and Lack of Shooting

Another key issue Redick mentioned was the Lakers’ continued struggles with shooting. The team had added some shooting in the offseason, but the numbers didn’t fully reflect the improvement they had hoped for. During the regular season, the Lakers were among the worst three-point shooting teams in the league, and that weakness became even more pronounced in the playoffs.

“LeBron is still one of the best passers in the league, and Davis can stretch the floor, but you need consistent shooting around them,” Redick explained. “When teams can just pack the paint against LeBron and Davis, it makes it so much harder for them to operate.” The Lakers’ reliance on two primary ball-dominant players in LeBron and Davis left them without the necessary floor spacing to generate open looks for role players. When teams like the Golden State Warriors or the Denver Nuggets packed the paint and dared the Lakers to shoot, the results were often disastrous.

Although Austin Reaves had moments of brilliance and other role players like Malik Beasley contributed sporadically, the Lakers didn’t have a consistent third option who could reliably hit shots from the perimeter. This made them one-dimensional, especially when LeBron or Davis were off the floor, and in critical playoff moments, their lack of offensive variety was exposed.

3. Defensive Prowess, But Too Much Reliance on Individual Efforts

On the defensive side of the ball, the Lakers were strong, particularly with the shot-blocking presence of Anthony Davis and LeBron’s versatility. However, Redick pointed out that the Lakers relied too heavily on individual defensive brilliance, rather than operating as a cohesive unit. “They have great individual defenders, but you need to play defense as a team in the playoffs. The Warriors, Nuggets, and other contenders are able to rotate and help each other out, and I think the Lakers sometimes failed to do that consistently,” he said.

While Davis was arguably the best defensive player on the floor in most of the Lakers’ playoff games, and LeBron still showed flashes of his once-dominant defensive self, the team as a whole didn’t execute well enough on that end. Redick emphasized that playoff teams with championship aspirations need more than just star defensive players—they need consistent rotations, help defense, and smart team-wide schemes that can stifle high-powered offenses. “In the playoffs, it’s not just about locking down a star player. It’s about forcing tough shots from everyone and executing as a unit,” Redick noted.

4. Coachability and Adaptability

Redick also pointed to some coaching and tactical decisions that may have contributed to the Lakers’ struggles. While head coach Darvin Ham had his moments, Redick suggested that the Lakers sometimes lacked the in-game adjustments and strategic flexibility needed in tight playoff series. This became particularly evident in the team’s inability to adjust to opponents who found ways to neutralize LeBron and Davis by targeting mismatches or exploiting weaknesses in the Lakers’ defense.

“Coaching is about making adjustments, and sometimes the Lakers didn’t seem to adjust quickly enough,” Redick said. “Whether it was matchups, rotations, or adjusting to what the other team was doing, I think the Lakers could’ve done more in that regard.”

Looking Forward: The Lakers’ Future After the Playoff Exit

After the Lakers’ early playoff exit, the question remains: what does the future hold for the franchise? LeBron James, though still playing at an elite level, is getting older, and the window for championship contention is narrowing. Anthony Davis, though a generational talent, has struggled with injuries, and his future as the team’s centerpiece is uncertain. The Lakers will need to make decisions about their roster and whether they want to continue pursuing a championship with LeBron leading the charge or pivot toward the future.

In his interview, Redick acknowledged that the Lakers had a challenging road ahead. He stated, “The Lakers have to get better at surrounding LeBron with consistent, high-level shooting. They need more than just a couple of good players—they need a team that can work together cohesively on both ends of the floor.”

For the Lakers, the next step will be retooling the roster around their stars and finding the right balance between veterans and young talent. With LeBron’s eventual retirement looming on the horizon, the Lakers must carefully consider how to position themselves for long-term success. The upcoming offseason will be crucial in determining the team’s trajectory.

A Crossroads for the Lakers

The early playoff exit for the Lakers in 2025 was a sobering reminder that talent alone isn’t enough in today’s NBA. Despite having two of the best players in the league, the Lakers were unable to put together a complete, consistent product. JJ Redick’s analysis of the team’s shortcomings was insightful, and it shed light on the critical areas where the Lakers need to improve.

For the Lakers to remain contenders, they must address their shooting woes, find a way to keep their stars healthy and consistent, and improve their overall team defense and chemistry. Whether they can do that remains to be seen, but with LeBron’s window closing and the team facing tough decisions, the future of the Lakers will be one of the most fascinating storylines in the coming seasons.

The LeBron Lakers era may not be over yet, but after their playoff exit, it’s clear that changes need to be made if they’re going to be in the title hunt again in the near future.