Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick proved as much during his annual news conference Thursday, giving answers better suited for the Twitter timeline than a head coach's seat.First, Redick offered a shady response about the team gelling after superstar LeBron James departed.LEBRON JAMES TELLS LOS ANGELES LAKERS HE WILL LEAVE IN FREE AGENCY AFTER EIGHT SEASONS: REPORTHe pointedly noted that this roster has a clearer identity than past squads led by James, his former podcast co-host."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."Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center on Dec.
23, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.(Mark J.
Rebilas/Imagn Images)Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick, right, talks to LeBron James during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers Saturday, Dec.20, 2025, in Inglewood, California.
(AP Photo/Jae C.Hong)Since LeBron’s departure, a running joke has taken over Lakers fandom."Snowtime" has trended across social media as the tongue-in-cheek nickname for the Lakers' projected core of Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler — with nods to depth pieces like Dalton Knecht and Maxi Kleber.STEPHEN A SMITH SHOWS HIS PRIVILEGE BY MOCKING LAKERS' ROSTER FOR HAVING TOO MANY 'WHITE DUDES'Because the team's projected top talent isn't Black, the online gag caught fire, and Redick awkwardly addressed it with a questionable remark about his starting unit.Without much context, Redick said he was confident two positions in his lineup would "not be white.""I'm pretty confident in three of the spots," Redick said.
"The other two spots will not be two white guys."It was a sarcastic wink to the online crowd, and a cheap internet laugh at best.THE CRAIG ...