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Before the start of the 2024-25 NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers embarked on the beginning of a new era of coaching by hiring the unproven JJ Redick.
He had never coached at any level of basketball before outside of his son's youth teams, but those who know ball just knew he was the right fit for this team.
Now, a year and a half removed from that decision, the Purple and Gold look a lot different than the team he originally inherited. I'm sure with no complaints coming from Redick's side.
One player that's remained not just a constant over the last two seasons, but five really, is Austin Reaves.
Reaves has progressively gotten better and better with each season, similarly enough, almost identically to Kobe Bryant.
More: Austin Reaves' early career eerily mirroring Kobe Bryant
He's been so good in his 5th year that many are calling for the shifty guard to be an All-Star this season for the first time in his career. To JJ Redick, this comes as no surprise. He knew it from day one.
Redick's first conversation with Reaves was a prophecy of things to come
When Redick initially took the Lakers head coaching position, he said one of the players he was most excited to coach was Austin Reaves.
He's even referenced, on occasion, the fact that Reaves has a bit of an attitude to his game that I'm sure Redick sees some of himself in.
When speaking to the media on Monday, Redick mentioned a conversation he had with Reaves when he first took over that seems likely to come to fruition this season.
“Our first conversation when I took the job was: ‘You’re going to be an All-Star.’
By the way, I’m not like going to every player and saying that. Like I actually said it because I believed it.”
- JJ Redick discussed Austin Reaves deserving to be a first-time All-Star today pic.twitter.com/skJrC8eCSy
Redick followed that up by saying, "By the way, I'm not like going to every player and saying that. Like I actually said it because I believed it." That belief in his young guard is manifesting on the court.
Austin Reaves is currently averaging 27.8 PPG (10th in NBA), 5.6 RPG, and 6.7 APG (12th in NBA) on 50.3% shooting. If those aren't All-Star caliber numbers, I'm not sure what it will take.
It seems that the Lakers may have two All-Stars this season, and one of them might not be LeBron James.
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