Luka Doncic might be the face of the Los Angeles Lakers‘ new era, but he’s not shy about having a little fun, even at the expense of his head coach. In a recent interview with Spectrum Sportsnet, Doncic shared his thoughts on JJ Redick’s surprising ascent to the Lakers’ top coaching job, offering a mixture of subtle praise and playful ribbing that only someone with their shared history could deliver.
When asked about the transition to Redick as his head coach, Doncic acknowledged how their previous relationship helped smooth things out.
“Way easier, you know, I know him as a player. He’s totally different as a coach. But he’s a great guy, you know, he knows basketball, he lives basketball. And just by knowing him from before, you know, it was easier for me.”
Doncic and Redick were briefly teammates in Dallas during the 2020-21 season, though injuries limited Redick’s availability at the time. Still, the connection left a mark. Luka admitted it was surreal at first to be coached by a former teammate, but that familiarity helped build chemistry quickly.
When asked if anything had changed between them since JJ transitioned from the broadcast booth to the sidelines, Doncic smiled.
“No, I hit it off right away. Like I said, I knew him and then he was broadcasting so I saw him a lot, and it was easy for me.”
But the quote that drew the most attention and laughter was when Luka candidly admitted he didn’t quite see this coming.
“Yeah, very impressed. You know, I didn’t think, I knew when I played with him, you know, he could be like, maybe assistant coach or something. I didn’t expect him to be head coach, but seeing what he has done has been unbelievable.”
It was a classic Doncic moment: equal parts honest and cheeky. While his words carried clear respect, he didn’t miss the chance to poke fun at his old teammate-turned-coach.
JJ Redick, for his part, has spoken openly about his admiration for Doncic long before becoming the Lakers’ head coach. In an episode of The Flagrant in 2023, Redick said that if there was one player he would want to coach in the NBA, it was Luka. A year later, that wish became reality.
Redick’s first season as head coach has been an impressive one. The Lakers finished 50-32, good enough for the third seed in the Western Conference. They’ve rallied behind the leadership of both Redick and Doncic, with LeBron James taking a complementary role and Austin Reaves blossoming as a top-tier third option.
Doncic has flourished under Redick, averaging 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists while adapting seamlessly to the system. Their mutual trust and understanding, built years ago in Dallas, now serve as the foundation of a franchise with championship aspirations.
While Luka may have joked about Redick’s unexpected rise, his praise was sincere. Redick has proven his mettle and Doncic seems more than happy to be the centerpiece of his former teammate’s head coaching debut.
