It was a wild scene in San Francisco on Saturday as the Los Angeles Lakers were working toward a crucial Western Conference victory. There were many storylines to follow after the game, but it was a heated sideline moment between JJ Redick and Luka Doncic that caught all the attention. While the scene looked admittedly intense, Redick downplayed all of the drama on Tuesday, before tip-off against the Pelicans.
“I didn’t think much of it at the time, and I don’t think Luka did either,” said Redick. “He and I have a great relationship; I really value our relationship. I think those things happen very frequently, and sometimes you have to rehash them with a player. It’s a competition, and there are two guys here who are trying to win a basketball game and, frankly, I encourage guys to talk to me and talk to our coaches, to tell us what we need. I don’t know why it went viral; it felt very normal to me.”
The clip dates back to last month, when Redick and Doncic can be seen having a heated discussion. It happened right as Doncic was being subbed out, and he appeared to ignore the Lakers coach. While we don’t know exactly what was said, it was likely some disagreement about a play on the floor. Either way, it drew some eyebrows as fans began to speculate on a potential falling out between the pair. Fortunately for Lakers fans, it wasn’t nearly as bad as it looked.
Under JJ Redick, the Lakers have built a system of open communication. Unlike the Clippers, where an NBA veteran like Chris Paul was forbidden from sharing his wisdom, the Lakers want their players to be fully engaged and honest with their coach’s game plans and strategies. They believe having input from everyone (especially their best players) can create an environment that fosters success.
Since taking over as coach in 2024, that’s been one of Redick’s ultimate goals, and he’s been pretty successful. By building up his relationships with players and holding everyone accountable (including himself), he’s helped the Lakers establish a healthy, championship culture. While the results haven’t been perfect, they’ve been solid so far as the team closes in on its second-straight 50-win season.
Of course, continued success will depend on the relationship between Redick and Luka. They’re on the same page now, but that trend will have to hold for this Lakers team to gain any momentum in the years to come.
