Bronny James’ NBA debut in the Lakers season-opening game on Tuesday night largely overshadowed the NBA coaching debut of Lakers head coach JJ Redick. But in the eyes of ESPN NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins, Redick was truly the one who shined in his debut.

Redick’s coaching debut couldn’t have gone much better. The Lakers looked excellent against a Minnesota Timberwolves team we just saw in the Western Conference Finals last season, coming away with a 110-103 victory on the back of a 36-point game from Anthony Davis.

Perkins and Redick were of course colleagues at ESPN before Redick decided to venture into coaching with the Lakers. And they haven’t always been on the same page during their time together at the network, getting into heated arguments on several occasions.

However, Perkins had nothing but positive things to say about Redick’s coaching debut, even though he very much looked for anything possible to knock Redick for.

“I know at times I can be labeled a hater,” Perkins admitted on Wednesday’s edition of NBA Today. “Sometimes I look myself in the mirror… I am a hater at times. But before I get to AD, I want to get to JJ (Redick). Because I watched him from start to finish up and down that sideline.

“I listened to him because he was mic’d up. Because I wanted to come on here and criticize him, but I can’t. He coached his behind off in his first NBA game. I thought he did an exemption job top to bottom. Even in his postgame interview when he was addressing the basketball situation. Because that’s the real thing.”

“I am a hater at times. … I wanted to come on here and criticize [JJ Redick], but I can’t.” 😅 @KendrickPerkins was impressed by JJ Redick’s first win as head coach of the Lakers 👀 pic.twitter.com/hBJ8WHaq7m

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) October 23, 2024

It sure sounds like Perkins will be Reddick’s biggest critic throughout the season. But as long as the Lakers continue to play like this, Perkins will keep his hating ways in the past when it comes to Redick.

[NBA on ESPN on X]