As heartbreaking as it is, the Lakers’ playoff journey has officially ended this year. LeBron James will now have to wait for another shot at his fifth NBA championship ring, and that really stings. The team came so close to witnessing history, but LeBron’s chase for ring number five gets postponed for at least another season. Meanwhile, another NBA powerhouse seems to be crumbling under pressure. And sadly, it’s Steph Curry’s Golden State Warriors facing serious trouble. The Warriors are now locked in a 3-3 battle against the Rockets, with everything riding on a high-stakes Game 7. And if Steve Kerr does not rectify the same mistake that JJ Redick did, the Warriors might just follow suit behind the Lakers – and Robert Horry has made that abundantly clear.
Remember how Lakers center Jaxson Hayes didn’t see a single minute of action in Game 5 against the Timberwolves? After the Lakers suffered a 103-96 loss and playoff elimination, fans couldn’t help but question that surprising rotation decision. Insider analysts believed that Hayes might’ve helped slow down Rudy Gobert, the man who delivered a monster performance and sealed the series for the Timberwolves that night. But shockingly, before Game 5, Gobert hadn’t scored more than six points in a game against the Lakers, which makes it even worse.
It really stings knowing Hayes’ presence could’ve made a difference, especially with how badly the Lakers struggled to control the paint. JJ Redick had a different plan, but now it’s clear that move backfired when the team needed it most. And now, seven-time NBA champ Robert Horry thinks the Warriors are repeating that same costly mistake with everything on the line.
In a recent Nightcap episode, Robert Horry called out Steve Kerr for making the same mistake JJ Redick once did. Robert claimed, “Kerr is going to do the same thing that JJ Redick did and bite himself in the butt with it by not playing Kuminga”. He pointed out directly at a strategic blunder. He explained, “You need size and you need athleticism to go up against this young and athletic side.” And, to be fair, he is not completely off the mark.
Apr 9, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (00) dribbles upcourt against the San Antonio Spurs in the second period at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images
The Warriors blew their chance to close out this first-round series in Game 6, leaving Chase Center in pure disappointment Friday night. Kerr and the Warriors desperately need fresh options, new ideas, and someone capable of creating that spark to flip this script. Right now, Kuminga feels like the move because whatever they’re doing isn’t clicking, and the Rockets aren’t giving an inch. Blowing a 3-1 series lead would be a brutal embarrassment, and playing Kuminga might be the one way out now. Robert Horry even compared it to Redick’s mistake, adding, “I don’t know what’s going on If he (Kerr) cursed him (Kuminga) out or something. He won’t play him.”
Robert believes ignoring Kuminga might cost Golden State this series, and honestly, the numbers and energy, both seem to agree. Now the big question is, will Steve Kerr risk repeating history’s mistakes, or finally listen and give Kuminga his shot? Game 7’s just waiting for the sun to go down, and whether Kerr adjusts or sticks to his guns could decide the entire series for the Warriors.
Robert Horry outlines what truly glues a Championship team together
Well, Robert Horry knows a thing or two about what truly holds a championship team together. After all, he has done it 7 times. And while Horry’s career stats never screamed superstar, his seven NBA championship rings speak volumes about his experience in building winners. He might not have stuffed the box scores like other legends, but his perspective on championship culture deserves serious attention.
On a recent ALL THE SMOKE episode, Horry gave a simple answer when asked about winning teams: “You gotta like each other, man.” According to him, creating strong relationships off the court matters just as much as talent, coaching, or game-day execution ever will. Robert believes that dinners, or random hangouts help players bond and build the essential chemistry that championship teams need to advance.
Those real connections translate to better trust and better communication. And a special teamwork on the court when the pressure’s sky-high in critical playoff moments. It might sound like a corny movie script, but seven rings prove there’s wisdom behind that old-school mindset. Every team that chasing titles should remember that championship culture isn’t built in practice alone. It’s created in those everyday, off-court moments – and when a veteran like Robert Horry speaks on this, you lean in and listen.
The post JJ Redick’s Mistake Cost Warriors, Claims 7x NBA Champ Amid 22-Year-Old Star’s Uncertain Future appeared first on EssentiallySports.