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 any person after the sport,” Redick mentioned. “I went to have a look at my telephone 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 charge 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 reply to 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 received.’ 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. Bear in mind, I received your Lakers’ video games. You’ll be able to’t conceal them flaws they received. You only a lifeless man strolling. They removed (former coach) Frank Vogel, who did a superb job. They removed (former coach) Darvin Ham, who did a superb job. However you got here on the market pondering you have been gonna change issues with that very same ugly lady you went on a date with. …
“The Lakers stink. He got here in there pondering, ‘I could make this factor work.’ Hell you’ll be able to. 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 recreation not being celebrated sufficient.
“I don’t assume we … have executed a superb 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, effectively, I’m not going to observe 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 outstanding critics among the many league’s companions.
“This recreation 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 are glorious. There are extra groups which are glorious. … We don’t have anyone that’s prepared to step as much as the truth that that is an superior recreation and we should always discuss it and have fun it in a constructive manner. That doesn’t imply we don’t critique it. We should always critique it, however we should always have fun it. No person’s doing that, and the folks which are 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.
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(Photograph: Darren Yamashita / Imagn Photographs)
