Lakers Coach JJ Redick Jokes His Starting Lineup ‘Will Not Be Two White Guys’

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick made an unusual remark about his starting lineup during his annual season-opening news conference Thursday, telling reporters he was confident that two of the five starting spots would “not be two white guys.”

“I’m pretty confident in three of the spots,” Redick said. “The other two spots will not be two white guys.”

The comment came as Redick addressed a nickname that has spread among Lakers fans online: “Snowtime,” a play on the team’s old “Showtime” moniker, referencing the fact that the club’s projected core — Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler — is not Black. Fans have also pointed to depth players Dalton Knecht and Maxi Kleber as part of the joke.

Redick’s remark was widely read as a sarcastic nod to that online chatter rather than a serious roster projection.

A Pointed Comparison to the LeBron Era

Redick also drew a contrast between this season’s roster and the teams he coached alongside LeBron James, who departed the Lakers for the Philadelphia 76ers in July 2026 after two seasons under Redick.

“I think we’ve always tried to give our players clearly defined roles, and I think with this group, [it’s] probably the first time in my three years here that I feel like the pieces actually fit together,” Redick said. “And so those roles probably get even more crystallized.”

The two men had a working relationship beyond the bench: in 2024, Redick co-hosted the basketball podcast “Mind the Game” with James before taking the Lakers job. That partnership ended when James left for Philadelphia.

A Rebuilding Job Ahead

Redick enters his third season as Lakers head coach after a rocky start to his tenure. His first season ended with a first-round playoff exit against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and last spring the team was swept in the Western Conference Semifinals by Oklahoma City. Before coaching, Redick spent 15 years in the NBA as a player known for his outside shooting.