Lakers' JJ Redick Not Concerned With 'Perception' After Bold Comments, 'I Don't Sugarcoat It'

Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick elaborated on his optimistic attitude toward the team heading into the 2026-27 NBA season.

During a press conference last month, Redick asserted the Lakers will "develop as a team into a championship-level team this year." He told The Athletic's Sam Amick he wants to set a tone internally and is less concerned with how those outside of the organization react.

"You've got to get things out in the open," the coach said. "We look at this every day. I don't sugarcoat it.

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"Those teams (like New York, San Antonio and Oklahoma City) deserve to be perceived that way, (but) I don't care. It doesn't matter — the perception of us. We're on our own path. We are on our journey. That's exciting to me."

Few would consider the Lakers to be championship favorites.

Los Angeles didn't have a path to properly replace LeBron James, and it's betting a lot on an oft-injured center (Walker Kessler) to cover up defensive deficiencies on the perimeter.

The Lakers sit 12th in Bleacher Report's NBA power rankings prior to the preseason.

Kessler, for his part, said he agrees with Redick's overall assessment "no question."

"Undoubtedly," he said, per Amick. "I think we have a lot of great tools and a lot of versatility, and I think that the guys are getting along, and I think connection makes championship teams. We definitely can be a contender."

Realistically, failing to win a championship shouldn't be deemed a disappointment for the Lakers if they have a strong regular season and advance a few rounds in the playoffs.

But the consequence of having a star as big as Luka Dončić is that the expectations climb to an often unrealistic level. The clock is ticking, too, when Dončić is eligible for free agency in 2028.

Should L.A. not look like a "championship-level team" on the court three years into Redick's tenure, the franchise might face some difficult questions next summer.