"JJ was an a–hole type of a guy" - Glen Davis on why JJ Redick coaching the Lakers caught him off guard

Basketball admin September 12, 2026 0 Comments

“JJ was an a–hole type of a guy” – Glen Davis on why JJ Redick coaching the Lakers caught him off guard

Anyone who has watched JJ Redick over the years can tell the former NBA guard-turned-coach is no-nonsense. He prefers to get straight to the point and avoid the fluff. The 42-year-old also has a reputation for being meticulous in day-to-day tasks.

Whether as a player back in the day or as a coach today with the Los Angeles Lakers, Redick has always maintained a highly organized, accountable approach to his work. Not to mention his competitive streak, which is visible even today as he coaches young stars like Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves to give it their all for the Purple and Gold.

JJ Redick philosophized about the additional requirements of coaching in the age of social media and the differences in the value of each possession in the NBA vs. the NFL at the end of practice today. Worth the 2 1/2 minutes. pic.twitter.com/zJYK6e8r6N

– Dave McMenamin (@mcten) December 9, 2025

Redick’s articulate, analytical skills also stood out during his brief media tenure, whether as an expert on ESPN’s flagship show, First Take, or on his podcast venture, The Old Man and the Three. However, the stoic demeanor and reticent ways can rub people the wrong way. A case in point is his relationship with former NBA teammate Glen Davis, whom he’s known since their teenage years.

Recently on the TFU podcast, Davis was asked about his thoughts on Redick becoming coach, and Big Baby Davis did not hold back, including calling JJ an a–hole multiple times during the conversation.

“I’ve been knowing JJ since I was 14. The AAU circuit… I got a chance to see him. Then I got a chance to play on the under-21 USA team with JJ. And you know, from my experiences with that, I didn’t never know he was gonna be a f-king coach… Motherf-ker was an a-hole. Like JJ was an a-hole type of a guy,”

Big Baby Davis shares his experiences

Glen, who has known JJ for a long time, was pretty colorful in his language when describing Redick. When asked why he thought Redick was an a-hole, the former teammate certainly did not mince his words.

“He’s just an a-hole. Like, you know, somebody’s just an a-hole sometimes,” said Big Baby Davis, who had been teammates with JJ on the Los Angeles Clippers and the Orlando Magic.

Elaborating on his disdain, Davis recalled that Redick was always straight business from the get-go, which he felt also came in handy during his hiring process as head coach of the Lakers. Glen also highlighted JJ’s “tactician” lifestyle, which extended to his routine, workouts, and diet.

Additionally, Redick didn’t engage much socially at the time, with Davis describing his reclusive nature and his preference to keep to himself.

Paying no heed to what others say or think

Whether as a career 41.5 percent shooter from the 3-point line or as the coach of one of the NBA’s most storied franchises, Redick has always been confident in his craft. A trait that could often come across as someone who is too full of himself, or, as someone like Big Baby Davis would describe, a-hole. But JJ never changed his ways.

Before being hired as the Lakers coach, Redick had volunteered to coach a fourth-grade boys team at Brooklyn Basketball Academy, where his nine-year-old son also played.

Hence, one could expect a lot of doubt, apprehension and ambiguity coming JJ’s way back when he was introduced as the new Lakers head coach. JJ, however, had the following response to it as well.

“I don’t really have a great answer for your questions because I really don’t give a f-k. Like honestly, I want to coach the Lakers. I want to coach the team. I don’t want to dispel anything. I don’t. I want to become a great coach in the NBA, and I want to win championships. And I want my players to maximize their careers. That’s all I f-king care about,”said Redick ahead of the 2024-25 NBA season in his first official press conference as the Lakers head coach.

One thing was certain: whether it was back when Davis knew him as a teenager or now, as the Lakers’ head coach, Redick did things his way, stayed true to his convictions, and never let public opinion sway him.

Related: “The only thing he could do is shoot; he couldn’t even dribble” – Tim Hardaway ripped into JJ Redick for his plumbers and firemen comment

This story was originally published September 12, 2026 at 5:27 PM.