“Coaches Are Fired Every Year”: Matt Barnes Predicts JJ Redick’s Future Amid Concerning Results

Imagine coaching Lebron James and Co. in a franchise that has a golden history running behind it. The thought of it builds pressure, right? That is why long-time friend Matt Barnes has a word of caution for the new Lakers coach JJ Redick. Coaching a team that has one of the greatest players of all time is not an easy task. And the link between performance with job security is so high that what happens tomorrow you never know. But the 44-year-old shared what he feels about coaches, and what can be JJ’s future. 

However, it is not just Barnes who thinks coaches are fired every year. Redick, who has a 4-year deal with the Lakers, too feels there is no security in this job. Although deciding the fortune of the 40-year-old is still premature, he must maintain a focused approach. More so, since he shares the locker room with LeBron and a talented Anthony Davis. And it takes ‘these many’ years to build a team and legacy, felt Barnes.

Responding to a question on N3ON podcast, Matt Barnes said, “It just takes time. You know, normally coaches get two, three, maybe four years to figure s**t out, but coaches are fired every other year, sometimes in their first year now. So, it’s just, we live in a, I want, you know, instant gratification.”

When Redick was brought up in the conversation as the top prospect of landing this job, many questioned his abilities. While many knew of his strategical methods, most wondered how an inexperienced coach can guide one of the most stories teams. But since JJ joined, the team has improved. But this is still early months to fire someone with an excuse of performance.

The answer to how long should someone take to build a team is debatable. While Tennessee-born has the basketball brain to hang around with the Lakers, it still lies in the management of what they expect from him. And there is no such tough conversation around him now, but recent history has kept coaches on their toes. While Barnes feels Orlando Magic No. 7 will get the respect he deserves, only time will tell where he heads. Especially because it is not easy to make an easy break in LA.

Lakers’ history with coaches, what leads to firing?

The Los Angeles Lakers, having second most NBA championships, are one of the most decorated teams in NBA history. With such records to defend, they have developed a reputation for not hesitating to fire head coaches when results don’t meet expectations. The benchmark is so high that they fired Darvin Ham after only two seasons. That too after taking the team to the NBA Finals in one and winning the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament in another.

The story of Mike Brown is even worse. They hired Big Mike in 2011 but fired him after only five games of the 2012-2013 season, because of his poor 1-4 start. It is believed his firing was the third-fastest coaching change in NBA history. Then Mike D’Antoni, who joined the same season, too faced the same fate because of unmet expectations. The list is long, some lasted a few seasons, some a couple, but the benchmark for all remained the same: give results. Now Barnes’s words seem easy?

History shows the Lakers’ willingness to make quick decisions, as even a championship win, or a rebuilding phase does not guarantee job security within the franchise. And, in the world of sports, today’s heroes can quickly become tomorrow’s villains.

It’s a rollercoaster of glory and scrutiny! And with such a history, Matt Barnes’s former teammate JJ Redick only has two ways, either take the Lakers to the sky or face the axe like the rest.