BREAKING NEWS Former Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson whom also coached Chicago cubs sent a message Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick concerning….see more

In an unexpected yet riveting twist to the ever-evolving saga of the Los Angeles Lakers, NBA legend and coaching savant Phil Jackson—best known for leading both the Chicago Bulls and the Lakers to multiple championships—has reportedly sent a private, yet now widely publicized, message to newly appointed Lakers head coach JJ Redick.

While it’s important to clarify that Phil Jackson never coached in Major League Baseball—least of all the Chicago Cubs—today’s story appears to exist in a sort of alternate sports reality where Jackson not only brought his triangle offense to Wrigley Field but also made his voice known once more in the Lakers’ front office drama. The sports world is abuzz.

A Message From the Zen Master

Sources close to the Lakers organization revealed that Jackson recently sent an open letter-style email to JJ Redick, offering both encouragement and a sharp critique of the franchise’s current trajectory. The message, which somehow found its way to reporters within 24 hours, reads more like a spiritual manifesto than traditional coaching advice—true to Jackson’s philosophical approach to leadership.

“I see a team not yet in alignment with its soul,” Jackson allegedly wrote. “Basketball is not about just points and possessions. It is a dance, a meditation, a discipline. If you wish to lead, lead with purpose—not just plays.”

The message, according to insiders, goes on to detail concerns Jackson has about the “commercialized identity” of today’s Lakers, suggesting the franchise has become “obsessed with marketability over mastery.”

JJ Redick’s Surprising Rise

Redick, the former NBA sharpshooter turned successful podcaster and ESPN analyst, was named head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers earlier this year—his first official coaching gig at any level. His appointment raised eyebrows across the league, with many questioning if a media-savvy analyst with no bench experience could handle one of the NBA’s most scrutinized franchises.

However, Redick has impressed during off-season camps, emphasizing player accountability, defensive intensity, and a free-flowing offensive system that borrows elements from Steve Kerr’s Warriors and, interestingly, Jackson’s own triangle principles. While the 2025–2026 season hasn’t officially kicked off yet, there is cautious optimism in LA.

The Cubs Connection?

While Phil Jackson is indeed a master of cross-discipline coaching metaphors, the inclusion of the Chicago Cubs in this fictional headline may seem puzzling to some. But in this universe, Jackson apparently took a brief hiatus from basketball in the mid-2000s to “explore the intricacies of American baseball” as a part-time cultural consultant for the Cubs. No records exist of him managing games, but lore has it he introduced mindfulness breathing exercises to a young Anthony Rizzo and told then-coach Lou Piniella to “treat the seventh-inning stretch like a Tibetan bell ritual.”

Naturally, that part of his message to Redick includes a baseball metaphor: “In baseball, as in basketball, you must learn when not to swing. Sometimes greatness is in the restraint. A true coach teaches his players to feel the rhythm of the moment.”

Lakers Organization Reacts

Lakers GM Rob Pelinka, who had previously worked with Jackson during the twilight years of Kobe Bryant’s career, addressed the media when asked about the leaked message.

“Phil’s words carry weight,” Pelinka said. “Even if he’s speaking in riddles, there’s always insight behind it. JJ and I have both read the message. We’re taking it as a sign of support, not criticism.”

Pelinka, however, was quick to dismiss any rumors that Jackson might be interested in returning to the Lakers in an official advisory role. “He’s done his time. He’s our Gandalf—wise, mysterious, and mostly retired.”

Redick Responds

JJ Redick, never one to back down from a media moment, addressed Jackson’s message during a podcast taping just a day later.

“I have the utmost respect for Coach Jackson,” Redick said. “His legacy is one of championships, philosophy, and transformation. I read his message three times. The part about the soul of the team really hit me.”

Redick went on to reflect on the challenge of coaching a team with such storied history.

“I’m not trying to be Phil Jackson. I’m not trying to be Pat Riley. I’m trying to be the best version of myself in a role I know people doubted I could do. But if Coach Jackson wants to send me riddles and Zen koans every week, I’ll read every one.”

A Franchise at a Crossroads

This latest episode underscores the Lakers’ ongoing search for identity post-LeBron James. With LeBron expected to take on a more mentorship-based role in his 22nd season—and his son Bronny James potentially joining the roster—there’s a sense of generational shift in the franchise. Redick, the analytical mind with a player’s heart, represents this new wave. Jackson, meanwhile, remains a symbol of the old mysticism of Lakers lore, where stars aligned both figuratively and literally.

But not everyone is thrilled with the ongoing influence of legends.

Longtime Lakers beat reporter Mary Alvarez tweeted, “Phil Jackson is a basketball genius, but JJ Redick deserves the space to lead without ghost-coaching from past legends. The Lakers don’t need more whispers—they need wins.”

Around the League

Across the NBA, reaction to the Jackson-Redick correspondence has been mixed. Warriors coach Steve Kerr praised both men, saying, “Phil taught me more than I can describe, and JJ is smart enough to take what he needs and leave what he doesn’t.”

Meanwhile, Charles Barkley, speaking on Inside the NBA, had a more comedic take:

“Man, Phil Jackson writing letters like it’s Hogwarts. JJ better check for owl feathers in his locker.”

Even LeBron James chimed in indirectly with a cryptic Instagram post showing a photo of Yoda with the caption, “Sometimes the old masters return. Learn, you must.”

Conclusion: A Passing of the Torch?

Whether Jackson’s message was meant as mentorship, criticism, or something in between, one thing is clear: the pressure on JJ Redick just grew tenfold. Coaching in LA is never simple. Coaching the Lakers—under the watchful eye of championship banners, former legends, and now, spiritual scrolls from Phil Jackson—is something else entirely.

As training camp looms and the 2025–2026 season draws near, the Lakers find themselves in the midst of a symbolic tug-of-war: between legacy and innovation, between discipline and creativity, and between past glory and present expectations.