Charles Barkley’s Strong Message on JJ Redick’s ‘Sensitive’ Behavior

In his pre-game press conference on Wednesday, Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick bristled when asked if he’d lean more on his assistant coaches for late-game substitutions. 

Redick responded, “You think I don’t talk to my assistants about rotations every single timeout?” before storming off the podium.

The exchange laid bare the tensions of a do-or-die Game 5, when every decision will be magnified.

Enter Charles Barkley, who before tipoff on TNT, sympathized with Redick’s plight but urged accountability:

"Dude, he just is a little sensitive," Barkley said. “He’s been getting criticized the last 48 hours for playing those guys, and he's just sensitive."

Barkley continued, "Everybody's afraid to say ‘I was wrong… You know what, I shouldn’t have played those guys the whole second half.’ And that’s it. Then it would’ve been over.”

Pro Basketball Hall of Famer and "Inside the NBA" analyst Charles Barkley.

© Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

With the Lakers teetering on the brink of elimination, the spotlight has shifted from the court to the coach’s chair.

The Lakers' rookie head coach made history (and not in a good way) in Game 4 by playing the same five players for every minute of the second half. 

The result was to watch a double-digit lead evaporate in a 116-113 loss that handed the Minnesota Timberwolves a 3–1 series advantage.

Statistically, the Lakers have been competitive, with LeBron James and Luka Doncic combining for 65 points in Game 4. 

But fatigue and bench droughts proved costly.

Now, with Minnesota one win from taking the series, Los Angeles must rediscover depth scoring, shore up late-game defense and demonstrate the composure expected of championship contenders.