Michael Malone praises how JJ Redick has coached the Lakers

Over the last couple of years, the Denver Nuggets have been the Los Angeles Lakers' own personal slab of Kryptonite. Almost every time the Lakers have played Denver since January 2023, they have ended the game with their heads hanging in defeat. This ineptitude has included two playoff defeats in the last two years to Nikola Jokić and crew.

But this season, they tied their season series with Denver at two wins apiece, but they will likely earn the tiebreaker over Denver. Their roster has changed significantly, and so has the overall character and soul of their team.

Nuggets head coach Michael Malone has taken several shots at L.A. over the last two years. But just days ago, he actually complimented the team, as well as the job JJ Redick has done with it.

Via Lakers Nation:

“Different players, different coaches. There’s a lot of change within the Lakers… They’re a different team. JJ is coaching them and his fingerprints are all over this team,” Malone said before the recent matchup between L.A. and Denver. “They’ve added another MVP candidate in Luka [Doncic] and the most amazing thing I think about that trade is just how the Lakers defense has gone almost to the top of the charts. They play small, they play athletic, they play a lot of versatile guys and they’re just really disruptive on that end of the floor. You have to be able to counter that.”

That defense Malone spoke of was on full display when the Lakers visited his team last month. They hounded Jokic and held him to 12 points on 2-of-7 shooting, and overall, they forced 20 turnovers, which led to them scoring 33 fast-break points in a 123-100 victory.

With a few exceptions, their defense has been one of the NBA's best over the last two months, and combined with a potential-laden offense, it has given them a very bright immediate future.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Michael Malone praises how JJ Redick has coached the Lakers

Topics

JJ Redick on the Lakers' tough schedule

How does Lakers head coach JJ Redick feel about his team's challenging schedule over the rest of the season?
Yahoo Sports - 5d
JJ Redick on rebounding from Saturday's embarrassing loss to the Bulls

Lakers head coach JJ Redick doesn't seem to be worrying too much after the Lakers got destroyed by the Bulls 146-115 on Saturday.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
JJ Redick on how important home-court advantage is to him

After three wins in a row, the Lakers once again have a real shot at ending the regular season with the second seed in the Western Conference.
Yahoo Sports - 5d
Lakers, Luka Dončić fail first test without LeBron James in ugly loss to Nets, leaving JJ Redick frustrated

Dončić registered his second triple-double since joining the Lakers, but struggled mightily from the field
CBS Sports - Mar. 11
Jokic expected back during Nuggets' homestand

Nikola Jokic, who has been sidelined due to left ankle impingement, plans to return "at some point" during the Nuggets' upcoming five-game homestand, coach Michael Malone said Sunday.
ESPN - 1d
How the Lakers' offense has changed since Luka Doncic's arrival

Since Luka Doncic came to the Lakers, their offense has evolved by leaps and bounds, and they're only starting to tap into their potential.
Yahoo Sports - 5d
Redick riled up as limping Lakers fall to Nets

Los Angeles star Luka Doncic logged his second triple-double with his new club, posting 22 points, 12 assists and 12 rebounds, but he also had five turnovers as the short-handed Lakers fell to the ...
ESPN - Mar. 11
Kane praises Tuchel's methods as England's new coach aims for World Cup glory

England captain Harry Kane has praised Thomas Tuchel's methods ahead of the coach's first match in charge, hoping that his straightforward approach will help England finally win a second World ...
Yahoo Sports - 4d
Texas to Turf Moor - how JJ Watt got 'invested' in Burnley

NFL icon and Burnley investor JJ Watt tells BBC Sport why he bought into the Clarets, what he gets from it, and how he sees the club's future.
Yahoo Sports - 5d
Nuggets expect Nikola Jokic to return to the lineup during upcoming 5-game homestand

Nuggets center Nikola Jokic is expected to return to the Denver lineup during the team's upcoming five-game homestand, coach Michael Malone said Sunday. Jokic missed his fourth straight game ...
Yahoo Sports - 1d
NBA Twitter throws shade at Dan Hurley for not taking Lakers job

After Dan Hurley's Huskies lost early in the men's NCAA Tournament, one has to wonder if he was wrong to turn down the Lakers' head coaching job.
Yahoo Sports - 22h
Texas to Turf Moor - how NFL icon JJ Watt got 'invested' in Burnley

NFL icon and Burnley investor JJ Watt tells BBC Sport why he bought into the Clarets, what he gets from it, and how he sees the club's future.
BBC News - 6d
How Bronny James Has Navigated Criticism to Take a Huge Step Forward

LeBron James’s son, the Lakers rookie, has quietly reached new career heights in the G League.
The New York Times - 4d
Nuggets' Nikola Jokić says he's 'playing the best basketball' of his life as Michael Malone makes his MVP case

Jokić said that if he doesn't win his fourth MVP award, OKC's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 'deserves it'
CBS Sports - Mar. 11
Letters to Sports: Cooper Kupp will continue to have plenty of fans in L.A.

Readers of the Los Angeles Times Sports section share their thoughts and opinions on Cooper Kupp being released by the Rams, Eric Musselman and JJ Redick.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 15
How Florida basketball coaching icon has influenced UF's Todd Golden, UConn's Danny Hurley

What Florida and UConn basketball’s head coaches said about the impact of former UF head basketball coach Billy Donovan:
Yahoo Sports - 2d
‘Sometimes it takes a little time’ – Didier Deschamps praises Michael Olise’s progress for France

Michael Olise (23) finally made his mark for Les Bleus yesterday evening as he put in a star performance as the attacking midfielder scoring and assisting to help France progress past Croatia in ...
Yahoo Sports - 23h
How short-handed will the Lakers be on Thursday versus the Bucks?

The Lakers will be without several key players when they host the Bucks on Thursday.
Yahoo Sports - 4d
FSU hoops hires assistants Michael Fly, Gerald Gillion

Luke Loucks has made two assistant coach hires and is in talks with two others to join FSU's staff.
Yahoo Sports - 4d
Lakers injury updates on LeBron James and Rui Hachimura

How much longer will LeBron James and Rui Hachimura be out for the Lakers?
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 16
San Diego Wave FC's rebuild in full effect: How NWSL side adjusts without Alex Morgan and Naomi Girma

The club has praised patience as it looks for long-term stability on the pitch
CBS Sports - Mar. 16
Who Is Government? by Michael Lewis review – what Doge is trying to destroy

The Moneyball author is joined by writers including Dave Eggers and Geraldine Brooks in a hymn of praise to the workers who keep America’s cogs turning. It is a tad obnoxious for Michael Lewis, ...
The Guardian - 6d
Rookie Justin Edwards drawing praise from Sixers for strong play

Undrafted rookie Justin Edwards has received praise from the Philadelphia 76ers for his strong play out on the floor.
Yahoo Sports - 2d
Trump praises Jeff Bezos's moves with Washington Post

President Trump is offering rare praise of a media executive, Jeff Bezos, the billionaire founder of Amazon and owner of The Washington Post, alluding to a slew of changes he has made to the ...
The Hill - Mar. 17
'I hated team sports': How Olympian Michael Johnson learned to be a leader

Olympian Michael Johnson said anchoring the men's 4 x 400m relay team taught him about leadership — after starting out playing football
CNBC - Mar. 14
How will Lakers survive without LeBron James?

LeBron’s groin injury, sidelining him for a week or two, disrupts the Lakers' rhythm just as they gear up against tough competition like the Bucks and Nuggets.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 11
Kirby Smart's coaching record entering 2025

Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart has an excellent record through nine seasons at UGA. How does it compare to Mark Richt and Nick Saban?
Yahoo Sports - 2d
Marotta praises ‘splendid work’ by Milan and Scaroni on ‘extraordinary’ stadium plan

Inter president Giuseppe Marotta has praised the work of AC Milan and Paolo Scaroni on the new stadium front, which has now become a joint project again.A step forward was made last week as Milan ...
Yahoo Sports - 6d
Pistons' J.B. Bickerstaff praises Ron Holland after career-tying game: 'He was phenomenal'

Pistons forward Ronald Holland II had a career-high-tying performance on Sunday, and the rookie earned praise from coach J.B. Bickerstaff afterward.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Mikel Arteta reveals why he thinks Enzo Maresca is a “magnificent coach”

Chelsea face a big game against Arsenal on Sunday and Mikel Arteta has been full of praise for Enzo Maresca in the build-up.The Blues head to the Emirates looking for a first win against Arsenal ...
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 15
Putin praises Trump for ‘doing everything’ to improve US-Russia relations

Putin responds to Trump’s appeal to save ‘surrounded’ Ukrainian soldiers in Kursk though there is no evidence of encirclement. Russia-Ukraine war – latest news updates Vladimir Putin has ...
The Guardian - Mar. 14
Michael Bisping has 'a very different opinion' than Leon Edwards on fighting in the middle of the night

Michael Bisping disagrees with Leon Edwards on what it's like to fight in the middle of the night. Edwards (22-4 MMA, 14-3 UFC) lost his welterweight title to Belal Muhammad at UFC 304 in July, ...
Yahoo Sports - 3d
Luka: It's on 'me and Bron' to recharge Lakers

The struggles continued for Los Angeles on Monday, as Luka Doncic and the Lakers dropped a 118-106 decision to the Orlando Magic, a seventh loss in the past 10 games for a club that has just 11 ...
ESPN - 1h
Tariff timeline: How Trump turned global trade into an economic battlefield

Trump has praised tariffs as a fix for economic issues, but their erratic rollout and shifting reasons have worried investors. See a timeline of the president’s trade rhetoric.
NBC News - Mar. 14
Ukrainian soldier praised for saving life of stabbing victim in Venice

Twenty minutes after arriving on holiday in Italian city, Yanis Tereshchenko drew on experience of war to intervene. A Ukrainian soldier who insists on always carrying a first-aid kit – even while ...
The Guardian - Mar. 13
Lakers' LeBron James has first on-court workout, expected to miss at least one more week with groin strain: Report

LeBron James had his first on-court workout on Sunday since straining his groin in the Lakers' March 8 matchup with the Boston Celtics, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. James has missed Los ...
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 16
Crunching the numbers on ageless Al Horford's throwback game vs. Lakers

How good was Al Horford in Saturday's win over the Lakers? Chris Forsberg highlights some eye-opening numbers that highlight the Celtics veteran's impact.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 10
Malone University men's basketball's memorable postseason run comes to heartbreaking end

Missouri S&T rallied from a 12-point deficit in the final 4:31 of regulation and beat Malone in overtime in the NCAA Division II Tournament.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 16
March Madness Quiz: Can you name these NCAA Tournament coaches?

College basketball has always been about coaches, and the great ones always make their marks in March. That’s how they become legends, instantly recognizable when you see them on your TV screen. Or ...
Yahoo Sports - 5d