.Ramona Shelburne, ESPN Senior WriterOct 4, 2024, 08:00 AM ETCloseSenior writer for ESPN.comSpent seven years at the Los Angeles Daily NewsAT EXACTLY 1:23 p.m. Tuesday, a full 7 moments ahead of his thoroughly prepared schedule, JJ Redick stopped for a moment to gather his notions. The question in front of him concerned LeBron James as well as just how Redick's expertises along with other fantastic gamers throughout his participating in profession had actually prepared him to become the coach for the NBA's all-time leading scorer in what are actually most likely to be the last periods of James' career.It was actually Time 1 of his very first training camp as an NBA head coach." I take that obligation very seriously," Redick informed ESPN. "I truly perform." A few moments previously, James had actually been shooting along with his kid Bronny James on the very same basket Redick was now settled under, reviewing the inquiry on how absolute best to optimize the final years of James' tenure along with the Lakers." I speak about delight as well as Thanksgiving at all times," Redick stated. "And also I look back by the end of my occupation. Of my in 2013, being wounded and getting traded. Clearly, [James] and I are various yet ... I really did not come to appreciate the last chapter." That implies winning, most of all. However it likewise means enjoying this unique adventure of James having fun with his son.Redick transformed 40 in June. James will turn 40 in December. They are actually contemporaries at really various phases of their lives and professions. But they are actually each fathers." I mean, you get to trainer your personal kids when they're little," Redick stated. "However he's in the freaking NBA, firing straight over right here on this basket with his son. ... They were actually carrying out 2-on-2 pick-and-roll practices to begin strategy against the coaches. Among all of them's guarding the ball. Among all of them's securing the screener. It's surreal." Those that recognize James absolute best say he yearns for structure and also responsibility. He thrives in disciplined, very arranged devices. He does his ideal when every person on the team knows their task. All are aspects he had actually despaired in under the Lakers' previous program, sources said.Redick's work is to create that sort of setting as swiftly as feasible, and his schedule embodies that effort. Mornings start early, along with weights and also conditioning. At 10:30, he organizes a classroom treatment for more youthful players. Practice starts at 11. Per day brand new principles and also bodies are actually being set up. Players' work is actually tracked each day then examined by the performance and mentoring staff.There's area for variance. After strategy, Redick determined to give James' ask for a DJ, though no person makes sure yet who is actually purchasing it, or for how long it'll last. Redick tries to receive house in time to grill burgers or even hotdogs for his little ones' dinner." I have actually attempted to become extremely intentional about my time," Redick mentioned. Throughout he possesses the team perform and whatever he carries out and also says.That requires a quality of objective: Every thing he and the Lakers will certainly do this season concerns taking advantage of the last years of LeBron James' renowned occupation and avoiding a few of the excruciating sessions of their past times-- when franchise image Kobe Bryant finished his career with 3 injury-riddled seasons and incredibly couple of possibilities to win.play2:43 LeBron hoping to lug Olympics drive in to Lakers' seasonLeBron James talk with Dave McMenamin concerning his wish for the Lakers' time and enjoying with his son Bronny.PART OF THE reason James involved the Lakers as a free agent in 2018 is the specification of treatment they revealed throughout the last periods of Bryant's career a years back, sources stated. James liked playing for a legendary franchise business as high as he just liked exactly how it alleviated its own well-known players.There was actually no informing how much a lot longer James might keep his amount of stage show when he participated in the Lakers. He was actually 34 at the moment, the very same grow older as Bryant was actually when he suffered an Achilles ligament injury that increased his bodily decline.Still, Bryant had actually made an effort to cajole the Lakers into picking up much better groups around him in his ultimate handful of periods in L.A., employing free agent ahead LaMarcus Aldridge, Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade, and promoting a business for Sacramento Kings star DeMarcus Cousins, resources said.The Lakers really did not land any of all of them. Instead, Bryant played his last periods with teammates that were infants when he got in the game. Over Bryant's last 3 times, the Lakers won an integrated 65 games.It was an unpleasant, inelegant bottom for the Lakers as well as Bryant-- however one that opened up a door to a future without him as they drafted 4 players in the lottery in between 2014 to 2017, most of whom were a draw for James in 2018 and after that the focal points of the business for Anthony Davis in 2019. Editor's Picks2 RelatedLast spring season, Rob Pelinka, the Lakers bad habit president of operations, who was actually previously Bryant's agent, found himself at a similar time with James. Like Bryant, James had created it very clear he intended to complete his job along with the Lakers as well as battle for one last championship. And also like Bryant, James wanted to enlist freelances to help him do so.But unlike Bryant, James has actually presented little evidence of downtrend, heightening this pressurised period a lot more. He was actually an All-NBA second-team player in 2013 at age 39. He played a leading man for Staff USA as it succeeded gold at the Paris Olympics. As well as his desire to gain-- as well as sizes he'll visit guarantee it-- have not waned.In May, Pelinka got in touch with former Fight it out coach Mike Krzyzewski and requested for assistance on just how to approach the situation.Krzyzewski had been actually a near confidant of Bryant's for almost twenty years and also was his selection to instructor the team in 2004. Pelinka had cultivated a connection along with Krzyzewski through Bryant as well as various other customers with Duke ties." It was almost entering the tail end of LeBron's job, how his legacy ought to be actually entwined with what the team is performing," Krzyzewski told ESPN of his notification to Pelinka. "I said it can't be actually the only point that you're considering. But exists a way that you can help him in positioning him in various ways on outburst? On protection?" Krzyzewski developed a shut connection with James in his years mentoring Crew USA. He understands the way James likes to be trained and the systems he has grown in.He also understood Redick, that had actually won various awards as a gamer for Fight it out from 2002 to 2006." JJ was actually as brave a player as I have actually had," Krzyzewski pointed out. "He looked for the moment, the much bigger the minute, the greater the condition was throughout a video game, the extra he liked it. "The relationship was created. Krzyzewski was actually the initial individual to create Redick and also Pelinka aware of the similarities in their personal styles as well as mind-set." Our team have actually obtained that coming from a ton of folks," Pelinka said. "When I clustered up with Mike at the Chicago combine, he felt like, 'I definitely presume you and JJ need to work together. I've recognized you for over 20 years and also I think you guys merely see the activity as well as see business of baseball really similarly.'" If Redick can take being booed in every arena he headed to, the reasoning went, proceeding "in a long line of disliked gamers we have actually possessed right here" as Krzyzewski placed it, he might deal with the stress of training James in the last years of his job. Redick was actually coordinated as well as thoughtful concerning every thing he carried out. His personal type was one that would fuse effortlessly along with James and also Pelinka, Krzyzewski claimed. And that was actually necessary in the environment they were actually all going into together." It's a long time. ... I presume they will have one another's back, and that is actually heading to be crucial," Krzyzewski mentioned. "Particularly in JJ's instance. If they may always keep expanding that partnership, I think the players will definitely find it too." In his five years on duty, Pelinka has actually survived languishing unfavorable judgment despite winning a championship in 2020 as well as accelerating to the Western Event Finals in 2023. It is actually the expense of leading a franchise business like the Lakers and also taking care of a superstar like James." I indicate, there's constantly things happening around the Lakers," Pelinka claimed. "When you possess a sturdy companion, you're certainly not encountering it alone." play1:51 advertisement on LeBron and also Bronny at technique: 'Everybody was talking slap in Bronny's support' Lakers star Anthony Davis refers to the dynamic of possessing LeBron James and also his child Bronny on the crew as well as what it has felt like during the course of practice.REDICK WAS IN the space when the Lakers brought in past as well as a dream in to reality.He stood up close to Pelinka as the Golden State Enthusiasts, who had made an effort to trade for James last period, weighed whether to take Bronny at No. 52. The Enthusiasts just liked Bronny's capability and also had him on their draft board, sources pointed out. Selecting him in advance of the Lakers, that had the 55th selection, will possess been actually a wise technique-- perhaps also to encourage James to sign there certainly as a freelance. But eventually, sources stated, the Enthusiasts chose to respect the desires James had illustrated as well as the Lakers signaled they would certainly grant.Dream satisfied reality today. After technique Wednesday, Anthony Davis described a setting coming from a skirmish previously in the time. Initially, Bronny reached a 3-pointer over his dad, which had the whole crew doubled over in joy. After that James answered through harassing a protector on the resisting conclusion, merely to have Bronny tear down one more chance over Austin Reaves. The following opportunity down, Bron required the reception once again." They weren't even compared," Davis mentioned. "However the competition existed and also's what our company enjoy to observe." Per day there are accounts enjoy this. And beginning tonight, there's a chance they play with each other in the Lakers' very first preseason video game." It indicates the planet to [James]," Davis pointed out. "I imply, no person has ever received a possibility to have fun with their son. To make sure that's like a different level of pleasure and also admiration. No person's ever before performed that." There are actually also the peaceful instants nobody finds. On a daily basis after practice, LeBron as well as Bronny become part of a shooting group along with third-year protection Maximum Christie. They fire jumpers from throughout the courtroom, taking successfully pases from brand-new player advancement trainer Ty Abbott and assistant coach Scott Brooks.James creates his 3-pointers at a high amount. Bronny is actually still dealing with his form and launch. Really few terms are exchanged. It is actually very much an expert obtaining his work in along with two younger players still attempting to show themselves.Above them are actually the franchise's 17 Larry O'Brien prizes peering adverse them via 6 home windows. Ensigns for each and every of the group's champions as well as retired jackets hang on the wall structures overhead.While there is actually palpable pleasure of seeing LeBron and also Bronny together, the body weight of requirements looms. Yet from time to time, the relevance of the second gains out.At the end of their workout Wednesday, James carried his son in for some of his elaborate handshakes. As they parted techniques, James connected his right-hand man and rubbed the best of Bronny's director-- as simply a honored daddy will.