Lakers’ JJ Redick uses Rory McIlroy as excuse for press conference tardiness

Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick was a few minutes late to his media conference at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday ahead of their game against the Utah Jazz.

It was their last assignment in the regular season, and it was easy to assume that Redick had to spend more time talking to his players. Hence, his tardiness. He, however, had a different excuse: Rory McIlroy.

McIlroy made history by becoming only the fourth player to win back-to-back titles at the Masters Tournament in Augusta, and Redick admitted that he had to finish it before doing his media conference, as shown in the video posted by The Sporting Tribune’s Arash Markazi.

“I would have been earlier, but Rory decided to hit in the trees. I had to make sure (he wins),” joked Redick, eliciting laughter in the room.

JJ Redick apologized for being late to his press conference as he watched the end of The Masters. pic.twitter.com/5EDnPntTec

— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) April 12, 2026

McIlroy fired his tee shot at the 18th into the woods, opening the door for Scottie Scheffler to steal the lead. McIlroy, however, hung on by a shot to win his second straight green jacket.

“I’ve waited so long to win the Masters, and all of a sudden, I win two in a row. So I still want to enjoy it. I’ve got a couple of weeks off before I go back to playing competitive golf, but I don’t think I’ll go through that lull of motivation or the sort of things that I was feeling last year after winning this tournament,” said McIlroy in a report from The Guardian.

He joined Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, and Tiger Woods as the only back-to-back winners of the Masters Tournament.

Redick, for his part, became deeply interested in golf after retiring from the NBA in 2021. He has used the sport as a team-building activity for the Lakers.

He recently played golf with LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Luke Kennard, Bronny James, and other members of the Lakers’ coaching staff.

The post Lakers’ JJ Redick uses Rory McIlroy as excuse for press conference tardiness appeared first on ClutchPoints.