‘Wasn’t a punishment’: JJ Redick explains why a $60 million star was benched | NBA News

JJ RedickHis coaching career began with exciting momentum, winning three consecutive victories and raising high hopes among fans and analysts. But that red-hot start has quickly cooled as his team is now dealing with a four-game losing streak, capped by a tough loss to the Grizzlies tonight. With high voltage and decreasing performance, Redick made a bold decision midway through the game and benched star guard D’Angelo Russell for most of the second half. After the game he spoke about the choice and the reasons for it.
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Redick’s bold decision in the middle of the game

After a blistering 3-0 start to his coaching career, JJ Redick’s winning streak has hit a snag with four straight losses, capped by a tough loss to the Grizzlies tonight. The recent slump forced JJ to make tough decisions, benching D’Angelo Russell for most of the second half. After the game he explained why.
In the postgame press conference, Redick shared his thoughts on the $60 million guard, saying, “Competition level, attention to detail… you know, some of the things we’ve been talking to him about for a couple of weeks.” “Sometimes he’s been really good at it, and sometimes, you know, he just falls back into certain habits.” Unfortunately, Russell’s performance this season has been rocky and he averaged 12 points, a career low, which dropped him to just 22 minutes limited.
However, Redick clarified that the decision was not a penalty: “It was not a penalty. I just felt like we wanted to have a chance to win this game, that was the route we wanted to take.” (via: EssentiallySports)
As JJ Redick navigates the ups and downs of his coaching career, his recent decisions underscore his commitment to responsibility and growth, even if it means making difficult decisions with star players like D’Angelo Russell. While the team’s struggles were a reality check, Redick’s willingness to prioritize discipline and effort signals a clear vision for his team’s future. Whether these adjustments will pay off remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Redick is willing to shake things up to keep his team competitive and winning.
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