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D'Angelo Russell's Media Day interviews were about his high praise for JJ Redick, which may have been perceived as taking shots at Darvin Ham and his former coaches. Russell, akin to his teammates, has seemingly been a fan of Redick's detail-oriented approach.
The Lakers' starting point guard also spoke about his relationship with the first-year coach while lauding him for prioritizing playcalling and IQ that he's keenly looking forward to after Thursday's practice.
"I'm not throwing shots at anybody. ... But I've never really had the opportunity to build a relationship with a coach over a long period of time," Russell said (via ESPN's Dave McMenamin).
"For me to see how JJ is trying to bring the playcalls and just level of IQ into each practice and each film session, to see how he's priotizing that ... It's something I look forward to."
Redick has pre-existing relationships with multiple players because of his time in the league as a player, which didn't end too long ago. He's also establishing relationships with players he's not familiar with to ensure a smooth execution of his plans.
All the players are seemingly on board with the difference between JJ Redick's methods and other coaches, especially D'Angelo Russell, who has raved about the rookie HC's impact in training camp.
JJ Redick wants D'Angelo Russell to have a career year
JJ Redick said D'Angelo Russell is one of the players he's talked to the most during the offseason. Redick believes he can help Russell have a career year despite an unpredictable summer, where the starting guard could have left the Lakers in free agency.
"He was probably the guy that I talked to the most of anyone on the roster," Redick said in a Sept. 25 press conference.
"We had a number of conversations during free agency and throughout July and August, and he's gonna have a major role on this team. I think the thing that D'Lo and I have talked about a lot is just like, let's put you in a position to have a career year."
Meanwhile, Russell said the two had it off right off the bat when they spoke this summer. The guard gravitated towards Redick's high IQ. Russell also heaped praise on the first-year coach's incorporating a 'structure' for the Lakers, which didn't exist before.
JJ Redick already has a few plans in place for D'Angelo Russell, which he said he would share when it's the right time. Russell already had a career shooting year last season, so it will be intriguing to see which part of his game shines under Redick's leadership.
