"Just Trade Bronny or Waive Him" - Lakers Fans React as JJ Redick Publicly Calls Out Bench For Lackluster Showing in Win Over Raptors

The LA Lakers bounced back from their defeat to the Golden State Warriors with a 131-125 win over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday. However, the victory wasn't straightforward, as they blew a double-digit lead, prompting JJ Redick to call out the bench for a lackluster showing.

The Lakers Nation handle shared a post on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting Redick's remarks on the subs' performance as the coach publicly called them out.

"JJ Redick on the stretch to end the game and having to put the starters back in: 'I won't make that mistake again. I'll just leave the (main) guys in. You gotta play until the final buzzer and if those guys aren't ready to play, I won't put them in,'" Lakers Nation wrote, quoting Redick.

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With a little over two minutes left, JJ Redick subbed in his bench players, including Bronny James, as the Lakers held a 15-point lead. However, that lead quickly dissipated, forcing Redick to bring his starters back in and prompting his strong reaction.

While Redick slammed his bench's performance, Lakers fans didn't hold back either, criticizing their lack of intensity and desire to close out the game.

"Redick learning the lesson in real time, next time just leave them in and let us all breathe," a fan wrote.

"Can't trust the bench," another fan added.

While many fans targeted the subs for their lackluster display, plenty of others singled out Bronny James and urged Redick to "trade" him.

"Just trade Bronny or waive him," a fan wrote.

BrickCenter also highlighted Bronny's struggles on the night, sharing a clip of him checking in and then getting subbed out in quick succession.

"Bronny James checked in and the Lakers blew a 15-point lead in 2 minutes 😭. The starters had to check back in," BrickCenter added.

JJ Redick names bench players who could break into the starting five as the season progresses

The LA Lakers bench was chastised by JJ Redick and the fan base on Sunday following their performance against the Raptors. However, not all players received the short end of the stick, as Redick highlighted three players who could eventually break into the starting five in the coming months.

"I said this after the game, it's kind of what we envisioned, like Luka and AR out," Redick said. "We still have a lot of offensive punch with Sandro (Mamukelashvili), Q (Quentin Grimes), and Colin (Sexton), and all those guys at some point inevitably will be in the starting lineup."

The Lakers have started the season brilliantly and will hope their bench can continue to evolve with each passing day.

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