LeBron James: “unfair” to place expectations on Lakers before first season with JJ Redick | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats and Rumors

EL SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 30: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks during a Los Angeles Lakers media day at the UCLA Health Training Center on September 30, 2024 in El Segundo, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and/or using this photograph, User consents to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

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Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James believes it’s “unfair” to place expectations on the team as it enters the first year under new head coach JJ Redick.

“I don’t have any expectations,” James said, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “And it’s unfair to put expectations on each other right now. The only thing we can count on for each other is how we train and come to work every day.”

To be frank, the Lakers have more reason to worry than outside expectations. They are entering a new era under Redick, the former longtime shooting guard who is transitioning from podcasting and ESPN analyst roles to becoming an NBA head coach.

For now, the Lakers have to worry about themselves and figure out who they want to be. According to McMenamin, Redick gathered the team for a dinner in Beverly Hills that essentially served to lay the groundwork for the season.

“It was kind of the first time we all came together as a team in one setting,” Lakers guard Max Christie said, according to McMenamin.

“JJ and the staff gave us a big presentation on the values of the team, the ground rules…so we can kind of surround everyone with an identity that we want to have as a team so that we can be a cohesive unit.”

Teams and players have more than enough to worry about internally and don’t necessarily need to worry about outside noise. San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, for one, doesn’t seem to mind.

The bullet doesn’t lie @Balldontlie

Wemby not afraid to live up to expectations in his second season 📏 pic.twitter.com/7pPUMmvUON

When it comes to James’ quote, however, people may look at James’ comments and wonder if he’s tempering preconceived notions about the team’s expected success. McMenamin provided some context:

“LeBron James has done his best to protect his team from any premature pressure that might result from the optimism surrounding the addition of Redick. After all, it stands to reason that with the effectiveness with which James and Anthony Davis have watched the Olympics, the Lakers returned a core team that “

The Lakers are going to have the spotlight on them due to the popularity of the franchise and the fact that a player in the GOAT conversation is the star. However, it’s also possible, for what it’s worth, that expectations aren’t that high. The last FanDuel Sports Betting the odds have an over/under win total at just 42.5 above average, and Los Angeles is just a -110 favorite to make the Western Conference playoffs.

For now, though, the Lakers seem more concerned with taking it one day at a time and building something from the ground up.

“It’s a collision course for all of us,” James said, according to McMenamin. “We all learn on the fly.”

James also said it was a “great first day” of training camp for the Lakers, also calling it “very detail-oriented.”

As for games, Los Angeles opens the preseason Friday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. It will also be the team’s regular season opening opponent on October 22.