Lakers Thunder – Misryoum reports JJ Redick and Mark Daigneault share past moments, including film sessions and Scott Brooks ties.
The Lakers and Thunder are set to begin a high-stakes second-round matchup, but the storyline before Game 1 has been just as human: JJ Redick and Mark Daigneault are leaning on old connections to frame what’s ahead.
At Thunder practice in Oklahoma City, Daigneault described how he showed his players clips of Redick from his playing days.. Redick. now with the Lakers. remembers those early film sessions from his time working with Misryoum. when Daigneault was already mapping out how a team’s defensive identity could be built.
Insight: In moments like this, coaching becomes more than strategy. It is also memory—used to set expectations, define roles, and communicate standards in a way players can instantly recognize.
The details Redick shared are the kind that stand out because they reveal how a label can stick.. He said he once felt boxed in by perceptions of his defense, comparing his early-career reputation to later years.. To make the point. he referenced specific moments from his career while explaining that he is selective about what he shows his players.
He noted that he has shown his own team only one clip of himself—one connected to an on-court charge attempt that came with a serious aftermath. That willingness to revisit the risk behind the effort, he argued, is a message worth delivering directly rather than letting myths take over.
Insight: Defensive effort is often talked about in broad terms, but players respond to concrete examples. When a coach chooses what to show, they are also choosing what kind of basketball the team will prioritize.
Both Daigneault and Redick also share a notable link: Scott Brooks. whose career intersected with each of them in different roles.. Daigneault said Brooks helped open the door when he was still learning the realities of running an NBA organization.. During the late part of Brooks’ Thunder tenure. Daigneault led the team’s G League affiliate. gaining rare access that helped him understand how the top level operates.
Redick’s path to Brooks came in a different moment.. After he became a rumored candidate for the Lakers head coaching job in the 2024 offseason. he said his phone began lighting up with a recurring suggestion: bring Brooks in.. He described taking Brooks to a golf course in Los Angeles as a kind of informal “interview. ” ultimately framing the decision around fit.
Insight: These overlaps matter because they shape how teams communicate and develop. When coaches share common influences, the matchup can turn into a battle of philosophies that started long before the playoffs began.