Magic Johnson leads JJ Redick criticism over LeBron James decision that burned Lakers

There might be such a thing as too much LeBron.

Unable to trust any of his reserve players in Game 4 of a best-of-seven series against the Timberwolves, Lakers coach JJ Redick opted to play the same five players for the entire second half — rather than play any of his bench players — in a crushing 116-113 defeat to go down 3-1 in the series.

It perhaps led to a scoreless fourth for LeBron James when the Lakers needed their 40-year-old star the most.

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JJ Redick opted to leave LeBron James out there for the whole second half.IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Lakers legend Magic Johnson let Redick hear it for the decision that may have cost the Lakers their season.

“I don’t know if it smart to play LeBron and Luka the entire second half after only having one day of rest between Games 3 and 4,” Johnson said in a post on X. “When we needed LeBron to take over in the fourth quarter he couldn’t – he scored 0 points in the fourth.”

ESPN personality Kendrick Perkins echoed similar sentiments in a post on X.

“Rookie Mistake by JJ!!! Bron and Luka [Doncic] were dead tired… you’ve have to find time to get them some rest. Especially a 40-year-old Lebron James who’s in his 100th season.”

Playing all 24 minutes of the second half was certainly a strange choice for the same five-man lineup, but especially for James, who was tasked with being the central defender on Anthony Edwards as well as a primary source of offense for Los Angeles.

James ended the game with 27 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists with an impressive three steals and three blocks in 46 minutes.

Los Angeles passed on the chance to rest either of their stars at the start of the fourth quarter when they were leading by 10 points.

Instead, Redick took a chance that they could build on the lead to carry them through the finish line.

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MAgic Johnson called out JJ Redick.Getty Images

That would be for naught as Edwards nailed back-to-back 3-pointers to open the fourth quarter, as the double-digit lead had nearly evaporated by the five-minute mark.

After the game, Redick was asked whether he second-guessed not giving James a minute or two to rest for the end of the game stretch run.

“Not on that one,” Redick said, adding that he asked those five players if they were able to go the entire fourth quarter. “Once you’ve kind of made that decision, you just got to trust them.”

Redick also blamed the referees for a “blatant trip” on star Luka Doncic with just under two minutes remaining, which led to a critical turnover by James on an ensuing inbounds play.

Los Angeles is competing for a championship with a makeshift roster after failing to acquire a center after Anthony Davis was sent to the Mavericks in the Doncic deal.

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JJ Redick talks to SAustin Reaves and LeBron James.NBAE via Getty Images

They had an agreement in place to acquire Mark Williams from the Hornets in exchange for rookie Dalton Knecht and draft picks, but the Lakers’ staff failed Williams’ medical examination, leaving Los Angeles bereft of the size needed to compete at the highest level.

Johnson, who previously operated as the Lakers’ president when James signed with the team in 2018 before quitting and handing the job over to rival Rob Pelinka, is arguably partly to blame for the Lakers’ lack of depth at center to begin with.

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Redick speaks with reporters.NBAE via Getty Images

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Johnson traded away Ivica Zubac to the Clippers for Mike Muscala, who is now out of the league in 2019, just two months prior to resigning from the Lakers front office in 2019.

Zubac, a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, has blossomed into a star across town.

Los Angeles will get an extra day’s rest as they head home, licking their wounds, as they prepare to defend their home court on Wednesday in a must-win elimination game against the Timberwolves.