Lakers coach JJ Redick likens LeBron James to MLB legend Greg Maddux
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Los Angeles, CA — First-year head coach JJ Redick says LeBron James’ 23rd NBA season reminds him of Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux’s late-career mastery on the mound.
Speaking to Spectrum SportsNet, Redick explained that the 41-year-old forward no longer boasts peak athleticism every night but still supplies enough to tilt games in the Lakers’ favor.
“He’s Greg Maddux at the end of his career. Every night he doesn’t have his best stuff, but he has enough to win and I’m his catcher, figuring out how to call the pitches,” Redick said. “Sometimes he tells me to F-off and calls his own pitch, which is fine too.”
Maddux pitched 23 Major League Baseball seasons and remained effective until retiring at age 42. James is matching that longevity, appearing in his 23rd NBA campaign after passing his 41st birthday last month.
Redick noted that nightly game plans are built around James’ feel and the opponent’s coverage. “We have conversations in-game: How’s your three-ball feel? All right, I’m going to run this set for you,” he said.
James continues to post significant numbers while sharing the floor with offseason acquisition Luka Doncic. The Slovenian guard recently said he expects their on-court chemistry to “keep getting better” as the season progresses.
James logged 23 minutes in the Lakers’ Jan. 6 matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center, part of a workload that Redick monitors nightly to maximize the veteran’s impact.
Source: Lakers Nation
