Darvin Ham was known for keeping the Los Angeles Lakers’ starting lineup under wraps, but that doesn’t seem to be the approach of new head coach JJ Redick.
Ham took some time to settle on a consistent starting five due to injuries, but once he did, the Lakers thrived, going 23-10 in the regular season with D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, and Anthony Davis as the starters.
On ESPN’s Zach Lowe’s Lowe Post podcast, Redick shared that he plans to stick with that successful lineup heading into this season.
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Redick elaborated further on how this group works well together, explaining that having both Russell and Reaves on the floor allows LeBron James to play more off the ball, which he believes will be beneficial for the team.
With that starting lineup, the Lakers’ bench rotation will include Gabe Vincent, Max Christie, Cam Reddish, Dalton Knecht, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Jaxson Hayes.
Vanderbilt is the wildcard, as his availability to start the season is uncertain due to health concerns. If he’s ready, Redick might consider starting him at times to add a point-of-attack defender.
Regardless, it’s encouraging that Redick is upfront with his players from the start, ensuring everyone understands their role and avoids confusion.