JJ Redick makes feelings clear on Cavaliers after Lakers lose season series against LeBron James' former team

During the postgame interview following the LA Lakers 122-110 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday, Lakers coach JJ Redick shared his thoughts on LeBron James' former team.

While speaking of the Lakers' shortcomings in the game, Redick said that teams would have to play "close to perfect basketball" to have a chance at beating the Cavaliers this season.

"We certainly had our chances and really believe this against teams as good as Cleveland, you have to play close to perfect basketball," JJ Redick said.

"They're not going to let you beat them. They're not going to beat themselves. They really believe in what they're doing."

Watch the segment at 2:44 here:

Tuesday's game was the second and final encounter between the Lakers and the Cavaliers in the 2024-25 regular season and concluded with the Cavs clinching their season series 2-0. While the Lakers put up a valiant effort, Cleveland proved to be too strong to overcome.

The Cavaliers have been on fire this season, starting with 15 straight wins and leading the league with a 29-4 record. After their win against the Lakers, they are riding an eight-game winning streak.

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JJ Redick on LeBron James' level of play as the Lakers star turns 40

LeBron James turned 40 on Monday and is now the oldest active player in the league. Ahead of his 40th birthday, JJ Redick elaborated on the Lakers star's level of play and expressed amazement on James' longetivity, having witnessed it from the beginning.

"I played against LeBron in high school so I knew that he was gonna be great in the NBA,” JJ Redick said. “I don’t think you could ever predict – no matter how much the prognosticators label people that 16, 17, 18 years old whether or not they’re gonna be all-time greats, which he turned out to be.

"It’s kind of mind-boggling just to be in this position coaching him, playing against him for 15 years, taking three years of calling his games and then he’s still playing at this level. Feels like he’s just been doing this forever – and not a small stretch in human history – but forever. And that just speaks to his competitive stamina and love for the game.”

Tuesday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers was LeBron James' first in the league after he turned 40. The four-time champion made history in the matchup by becoming the only player to have played an NBA game as a teenager and as a 40-year-old.

Currently in his 22nd NBA season, LeBron James remains a highly efficient player, dropping 23 points in a losing effort against the Cavs along with four rebounds, seven assists and a block.