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WATCH: JJ Redick Storms Out Of Press Conference After Being Asked About Second Half Substitutions in Game 4

The Lakers recorded a 116-113 loss in Game 4 of the first-round series vs. Wolves.

Inage Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles head coach JJ Redick abruptly walked out of a press-conference ahead of Game 5 of the first-round NBA Playoffs series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. As the Lakers were gearing up for their must-win game, Redick was asked something he deemed insulting. A reporter pointed out that Redick didn’t make a substitution in the second half of Game 4 on Sunday.

He asked if the first-time coach leans on assistant coaches in making such decisions. The reporter asked, “As you watched the film, what do you recall about your thought process in the moment, sticking with the five you stuck with in the fourth quarter the other day? Is there an assistant or someone maybe that you’ll lean on maybe tonight to try to get some other guys involved? And if that opportunity presents itself…”

Redick seemingly got offended by the question and interrupted the reporter to ask if he asked this because of his lack of experience. Not only this, but Redick also asked if he thinks he doesn’t involve his assistants during the timeouts. The Lakers’ coach interrupted, “Are you saying that because I’m inexperienced? And that was an inexperienced decision I made? You think I don’t talk to my assistants about substitutions every single timeout?”

The reporter replied back and said, “No, I just think a lot of coaches lean on their assistants in those situations…” However, by this time, Redick seemed to have gotten annoyed and he walked off after saying that he also does it, and thinking otherwise it is just a weird assumption. The 40-year-old said, “As do I. Every single time. That’s a weird assumption,” before walking out of the press conference.

JJ Redick abruptly left the press conference after being asked whether he plans to rely on his Lakers assistant coaches for fourth-quarter substitutions. pic.twitter.com/M9n8HGXH9Q
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 1, 2025

Redick’s Poor Substitution Strategy Led to Lakers’ 116-113 Loss in Game 4

The Lakers, who headed into Game 4 on Sunday trailing the series 2-1, went on to suffer a disheartening 116-113 loss, officially putting them into a must-win scenario. During Game 4, Redick raised eyebrows when he played a single file of players including LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Dorian Finney-Smith for the entire second half. Only Gabe Vincent played for more than seven minutes in the game.

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The 17-time champions maintained a 12-point lead but Anthony Edwards’ 43 points snatched away the victory from an exhausted Lakers’ squad, who could only score 19 points in fourth quarter.

Notably, JJ Redick, in his first-year of coaching career, led the side to a 50-32 record and the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. During Game 4, he became the first coach to use only five players across an entire second half in a playoff game.

Talking about Game 5, the Lakers suffered a heavy 103-96 loss to the Wolves, leading to their elimination from the championship contention.

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JJ Redick

Los Angeles Lakers

Minnesota Timberwolves

NBA Playoffs 2025

Garima Ranawat

Garima is a sports writer with around two years of experience in Indian sports and a newfound interest in the NBA. Inspired by the leadership of cricketing legend MS Dhoni, she wishes to bring in newer perspectives to the NBA fanatics with her writing.