The Los Angeles Lakers have tapped veteran NBA sharpshooter JJ Redick to take the reins as their new head coach, a bold move that has fans buzzing. And in his first public comments since accepting the position, Redick wasted no time in singling out one of the Lakers’ rising young stars, Austin Reaves.

In a video clip released by the team, the 15-year pro-turned-coach raved about Reaves’ competitive spirit and mental toughness, describing the 26-year-old as “excellent” and expressing his eager anticipation to guide him.

Reaves is coming off a breakout campaign, where he proved himself a swiss-army knife for the Lakers, averaging 15.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game while shooting a scorching 48.6% from the field and 36.7% from beyond the arc. The undrafted product of Wichita State and Oklahoma has quickly become a fan favorite in LA, and Redick’s glowing endorsement has only stoked the hype further.

The Lakers’ social media post showcasing Redick’s remarks on Reaves has already generated a staggering 8,000+ likes and half-a-million impressions, underscoring the intense interest surrounding this new coaching regime and the team’s young core.

After a 47-35 season that saw the Lakers survive the play-in tournament before bowing out to the Nuggets in the opening round, Redick will look to harness Reaves’ competitive fire and two-way savvy as he seeks to return the 17-time champions to the NBA mountaintop. With the legendary Kobe Bryant’s former running mate now leading the way, the City of Angels is buzzing with anticipation.