JJ Redick Given LeBron James Advice Before Return to Los Angeles Lakers
James is yet to make his season debut as he deals with sciatica. In his absence, Luka Doncic has played MVP-level basketball, and Austin Reaves seems destined to make an All-NBA team. The Lakers are expected only to get better once James returns.
Despite optimism surrounding their season so far, the Lakers have some questions to answer. How will James handle not being the first option? As long as the Lakers keep winning, that concern seems minor.
In an effort to keep the good times rolling, one Hall of Fame player gave JJ Redick some odd advice.
GettyDALLAS, TEXAS – APRIL 09: Head coach JJ Redick of the Los Angeles Lakers high fives LeBron James #23 during the third quarter against the
Los Angeles Lakers Urged to Bench LeBron James
James is one of the best two players to ever suit up in the NBA. At this point, it’s only between him and Michael Jordan. Imagine asking either of them to play with the second unit.
That’s exactly what Paul Pierce did.
“When LeBron comes back, LeBron got to come off the bench,” he said on the most recent episode of the KG Certified
Pierce argued that James and Doncic can’t share the floor and find success. When looking at last season’s first-round exit, there’s a case to be made. However, their 15-8 record together suggests otherwise.
“Instead of you being out there with Luka, you take Luka out of the game, and now you run what Luca was doing,” Pierce added.
The Lakers have been encouraged to stagger James
Paul Pierce and LeBron James Have a Feud
Pierce, clearly, is pushing an agenda. For whatever reason, he sees himself as a peer to James. Pierce was a great player, evidenced by his ten All-Star appearances and his Finals MVP, but he is not on the same level as James.
Only Jordan is.
Pierce and James have a well-documented rivalry, and since his retirement in 2017, Pierce has taken to the media and podcast appearances to raise his reputation and tear down James.
While Redick is unlikely to have James lead the second unit, minutes where all three of the Lakers’ stars share the floor could be few and far between. It just won’t be the way Pierce may have envisioned it, with James suddenly in the running for Sixth Man of the Year.
Warriors Make Incredible Steph Curry Era History in Pacers Win
The Golden State Warriors have gone 92-154 in the Steph Curry era when the sharpshooter has been sidelined. Entering Sunday’s contest against the
In a surprising turn of events, the Curry-less Warriors blew out the Pacers, 114-83, to snap their two-game losing streak and improve to 6-5 in the 2025-26 season. As a result, they created an incredible piece of history,
“The Warriors’ 31-point win vs. the Pacers (114-83) is the team’s largest victory in a game without Steph Curry since he entered the NBA in 2009-10,” read the X account.
The Warriors’ 31-point win vs. the Pacers (114-83) is the team’s largest victory in a game without Steph Curry since he entered the NBA in 2009-10 😳
Warriors Bolstered By Butler Return
Although Steph Curry (illness) sat out a third consecutive game, the Warriors received a significant shot in the arm over the weekend in the form of Jimmy Butler III’s return. The veteran swingman missed two games last week due to lower back spasms and looked sluggish in his return during a
In Sunday’s game, Butler proved why the Warriors paid a premium to acquire him at last season’s trade deadline. The 36-year-old posted 21 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, two steals and a block, while finishing a +19 on the floor.
With Curry expected back for Tuesday’s blockbuster clash against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the reigning NBA champions, the Warriors will be whole for the first time in the 2025-26 season, after earlier injuries to Moses Moody and Butler.
Warriors Finally Getting Healthy
Another positive piece of news coming out of Sunday’s win is Al Horford’s production of 12 points, four rebounds and three blocks in just 18 minutes of action. The NBA champion has been unable to play back-to-back games, and his production hasn’t been nearly as good as it was in his last two seasons with the
NBC Sports Bay Area’s Dalton Johnson explained why Horford’s performance was a huge plus for the Warriors in the win over the Pacers.
“Al Horford had his best game with the Warriors,” wrote the Warriors beat writer. “The 39-year-old center hadn’t made a three in the first week-plus of November, going 0 of 7 in his last game and 0 of 2 in the Warriors’ loss to the Pacers to open the month. Sunday night against the same team, Horford finally found a rhythm.
“He missed his first attempt but made his final four of five, scoring 12 points – all threes – in 18 minutes off the bench. Horford also had four rebounds and blocked three shots.”
