On May 12, the Los Angeles Lakers were swept 4-0 by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals, losing 115-110 at home. After the season-ending defeat, Lakers head coach JJ Redick spoke to the media.
**On the Gap Between Them and a Championship Team**
“That’s what the offseason is for—to figure it out,” Redick said. “We set goals—building championship habits, championship-level communication, championship caliber roster. I feel like we came close, but that doesn’t guarantee winning it all. I believe in continuity, but if you want to win a title with this group—and I do, I know Rob Pelinka does, Jeanie Buss does, Mark does—you have to realistically assess where you stand. Right now, we’re not good enough. There may be some continuity, maybe not. That’s what the next two months are about.”
**On LeBron James’ Future**
“I haven’t thought about it yet. Again, we’ll deal with offseason matters when the offseason comes—over the next two months,” Redick said.
**On His Emotions After the Season Ended**
“I told the team this is my 17th year in the NBA. I’ve always seen every team I’ve been part of as a living organism. Sometimes it’s healthy and thriving, sometimes it catches a cold, sometimes it gets very sick. This year we experienced all of that. When the season ends, that organism dies—it never comes back. You mentioned free agents before. Sometimes you have one or two of those players. We have half the team in that situation.
“I’m just a kid from rural Virginia, but I get to do this. That’s why I get emotional—because I care about this almost more than anything. I don’t want to say it that way, but I do—besides my wife and kids. That’s why I didn’t want the season to end. I wanted to keep going. I enjoyed every single moment of this year.”