JJ Redick reveals ‘cheat code’ to winning in NBA

JJ Redick reveals ‘cheat code’ to winning in NBA

Heading to the 2024-25 season, I was admittedly lower on the Los Angeles Lakers, partly because I didn’t how first-year head coach JJ Redick would acclimate despite building a very good staff around him.

Redick’s acclimated almost as well as one could ask for. The Lakers are currently 33-21 in the West, 2.5 games above the Clippers while being just one game back of the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference. They are currently a top-10 offense while improving to No. 15 on defense–a mark that was much lower earlier in the season.

After Thursday night’s eight-point win over the Portland Trail Blazers, the former 15-year NBA veteran shared the “cheat code” to winning in the NBA.

“There’s only actually one cheat code in the NBA and that’s playing hard,” Redick said, according to Yahoo Sports. “If you play hard every night, you have a chance to win. If you don’t play hard every night, you’re probably going to lose…You give yourself a chance to win every night if you play hard.”

"I had this revelation, like I don't know, six weeks ago, two months ago. And the math stuff, it's important… There's actually only one cheat code in the NBA, and that's playing hard. If you play hard every night, you have a chance to win." – JJ Redick

— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) February 21, 2025

This same sentiment could be shared at any level of basketball, but as the stakes rise, the more this becomes true.

I don’t want to sound like a homer but look at the Miami Heat, for example. Since Pat Riley arrived in 1995, they’ve fostered a culture purely on playing hard and winning. As a result, they’ve become one of the five most successful organizations in the 21st century, winning three NBA Titles while advancing to 10 Eastern Conference Finals.

Ironically enough, the Lakers’ low point of the season came against the Heat, when they didn’t play hard. Los Angeles lost by 41 points–looking like they gave up in the second half–and was very candid about his team’s lack of fight throughout.

Since then, the Lakers are 21-12 with the sixth-best defense in the NBA. Having talent obviously matters, but the right hunger and habits can go a long way at any level of basketball–not just the NBA. The Lakers play hard. The Thunder play hard. The Celtics play hard. The Magic play hard (despite the fact they can’t make anything). The Cavaliers play hard. The most successful teams have talent and play hard; that’s how you garner the respect of your peers.

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