For the first time since they won the NBA Championship in 2020, the Los Angeles Lakers will not have to fight their way through the NBA Play-In Tournament to get into the playoffs.

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith seems so impressed with the job Redick has done that he boldly said on "NBA Countdown" the coach will someday win a world title (h/t Lakers Daily ).

When the UConn coach turned down a $70-million job offer to come to L.A., it might have been humiliating for the storied franchise but it ignited a rebirth.