Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick said D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, LeBron James, Austin Reaves and Anthony Davis will start when the 2024-25 season begins with an Oct. 22 home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“It’ll be the starting five that went 23-10 last year,” Redick told ESPN’s Zach Lowe, before confirming the five players’ names on Tuesday’s episode of the Lowe Post podcast (57:30 mark.)
Redick’s starting five leaves power forward Jarred Vanderbilt, who dealt with multiple injuries last season and is reportedly questionable for training camp, on the bench.
If he can return to the lineup, Vanderbilt could potentially compete with Hachimura for the frontcourt starting spot, especially if Redick decides to prioritize defense among his starters.
Gabe Vincent, who was limited by a knee injury to just 11 games in his first season with the Lakers after signing with the team last offseason, could also potentially challenge for a spot in the starting lineup through the season.
But Redick told Lowe he believes his initial starting five should help James succeed in his age-40 season as players like Reaves and Russell take on some ball-handling duties around the star.
“I think when people hear that, in regards to LeBron playing off the ball, it doesn’t mean he’s not gonna have the ball,” Redick told Lowe. “LeBron is one of the smartest players, and I think using him as a screener, and finding ways to get him the ball in specific spots on the floor, where he can be a facilitator and a scorer, that’s what I mean by being off the ball.”
Redick added that his team will focus on offensive rebounding, an area where Davis has historically excelled.
“There will be a decent amount of movement,” Redick said about his offense. “The shot profile will hopefully improve. We’ve talked about ways to create more paint touches. We’ve talked about ways to shoot more threes. We’ve talked about some of the leeway that you have to give certain players with their mid-range shots, whether that’s in the post or isolation.”
Behind Redick’s starters, third-year guard Max Christie and 2024 first-rounder Dalton Knecht are likely candidates to get playing time off the bench.
Meanwhile, 2023 first-round pick Jalen Hood-Schifino, who received limited playing time under former Lakers head coach Darvin Ham, could see more minutes if Redick decides to prioritize his development.
The first-year head coach may have to wait until Oct. 1 to see this full lineup in action. Dan Woike recently reported for the Los Angeles Times that the Lakers won’t be participating in “player-led minicamps” ahead of training camp