Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick reached his 100th career coaching win after the team’s victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on April 1. The win also marked a milestone for the Lakers, improving their season record to 50-26.
Redick’s achievement makes him the twelfth coach in franchise history to reach 100 wins and the first since Phil Jackson in 2010 and 2011 to lead the team to back-to-back seasons with at least 50 victories. General Manager Rob Pelinka recognized Redick’s accomplishment, including arranging congratulatory messages from Redick’s sons.
Despite joining a select group of coaches, Redick said he does not feel deserving of comparisons with Hall of Famers like Phil Jackson or Pat Riley. “Don’t deserve to be mentioned along with Phil or Pat, any of those guys,” Redick said after the game. “I’ve got a lot left to accomplish, for sure. I think both teams, I’ve had the same staff for the most part both years, I think we are resilient and we are resolved.”
Redick credited his players and staff for handling challenges throughout his two seasons as head coach. “I think for our players, they’ve done a really good job both seasons with a lot of challenges, most of them unforeseen, of just staying the course and not letting go of the rope,” he said. He added that managing an NBA season requires continuous problem-solving by both players and coaches.
The night was notable for other milestones as well; LeBron James recorded his 1,229th career win—regular season and playoffs combined—surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for most career wins.
As Redick continues into his third year leading Los Angeles, observers will watch whether he can build on these early achievements alongside a roster that has demonstrated resilience under pressure.
