Lakers' JJ Redick: 'I Don't Carry Beef' with Doc Rivers After 2023-24 Criticism

JJ Redick and Doc Rivers are in a "fine" spot as they prepare to become coaching rivals for the first time.

Redick, who is entering his first season as the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, notably played under Rivers during his time with the Los Angeles Clippers.

He also criticized Rivers during an appearance on First Take last season, stating that Rivers needs to "stop making excuses" and that there is "never accountability with that guy" in response to comments the coach had made during the 2023-24 season with the Milwaukee Bucks.

As he and the Lakers prepared to play the Bucks in a preseason matchup on Thursday, Redick squashed any rumors of discontent between the two and said that they have a normal relationship.

"I don't carry beef with people," Redick said, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN. "And I'm not going to get into the history of Doc and I's relationship right now. And I probably won't ever. He's fine in my book."

He also acknowledged that he has reflected on that appearance and said that he "regrets" his tone.

"After that 'First Take' appearance, there were a number of conversations that I had with people -- both at ESPN and within the league -- that provided a good amount of perspective whether I had stayed in the media or whether I had pursued a coaching job," Redick said Thursday. "I will say this again, [I] regret my tone in that case. I've owned that and I regret my tone."

The Lakers won the preseason matchup 107-102 and are hoping to improve on a 47-34 season that ended in the first round of the postseason. Los Angeles is led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis and will hope that Redick can inject some new life into the franchise during his first coaching stint.

The Lakers and Bucks won't square off in the regular season until March but will play twice in four games during that stretch. Beyond that, the only other chance Redick and Rivers' squads would see each other would be in the NBA Finals.