LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick mentioned he was unfazed by TNT analyst Charles Barkley’s criticism of the Lakers coach when requested about it Friday forward of Los Angeles’ residence matchup with the Atlanta Hawks.
“I learn a random textual content from anyone after the sport,” Redick mentioned. “I went to take a look at my cellphone and it says one thing about Charles Barkley. And I’m like, ‘Huh?’ … I didn’t make it during the clip, I gotta be trustworthy with you. My resting coronary heart price might be 64. I watched the clip, it was 64. Actually don’t care. I’ve different ideas, however don’t care.”
On Thursday, whereas TNT host Ernie Johnson Jr. voiced the highlights of the Boston Celtics’ 118-115 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, Barkley took an opportunity to answer Redick’s latest criticism of how nationwide media covers the NBA.
“He mentioned one thing about, ‘We’re the explanations folks ain’t watching this crappy product we bought.’ I mentioned, ‘Us?’ Like we on the market jacking up 100 3s an evening,” Barkley mentioned. “JJ (Redick), you come for the king you higher not miss, as a result of I can get you, brother. Keep in mind, I bought your Lakers’ video games. You may’t disguise them flaws they bought. You only a lifeless man strolling. They removed (former coach) Frank Vogel, who did a very good job. They removed (former coach) Darvin Ham, who did a very good job. However you got here on the market considering you had been gonna change issues with that very same ugly lady you went on a date with. …
“The Lakers stink. He got here in there considering, ‘I could make this factor work.’ Hell you may. Put some make-up on that pig. … The Lakers stink, man. C’mon, man.”
Two weeks prior, Redick was requested in regards to the discourse surrounding the NBA’s declining TV scores and pointed to the league and sport not being celebrated sufficient.
“I don’t suppose we … have finished a very good job of storytelling, of celebrating the sport,” Redick mentioned on Dec. 19 in Sacramento. “If I’m an off-the-cuff fan and also you inform me each time I activate the tv that the product sucks, nicely, I’m not going to look at the product. And that’s actually what has occurred over the past 10 to fifteen years. I don’t know why. It’s not humorous to me.”
Whereas Redick didn’t specify which voices he was referring to, the celebrated former gamers on TNT’s “Contained in the NBA” — Kenny Smith, Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal — are sometimes cited as probably the most distinguished critics among the many league’s companions.
“This sport needs to be celebrated,” Redick mentioned in Sacramento. “The league is extra gifted and expert than it was 18 years in the past after I was drafted. That’s a reality. There are extra gamers which might be glorious. There are extra groups which might be glorious. … We don’t have anyone that’s prepared to step as much as the truth that that is an superior sport and we should always discuss it and have a good time it in a constructive means. That doesn’t imply we don’t critique it. We must always critique it, however we should always have a good time it. No one’s doing that, and the folks which might be have a small area of interest following on Twitter.”
Earlier than being employed by the Lakers in late June of 2024, Redick was an ESPN analyst and a podcast host after the 15-year NBA veteran retired in 2021.
Required studying
(Picture: Darren Yamashita / Imagn Photos)
