Luka Doncic Had Four-Word Message About JJ Redick After Lakers’ Playoff Exit….

 

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Luka Doncic Had Four-Word Message About JJ Redick After Lakers’ Playoff Exit

Tim Capurso | May 1, 2025

Doncic and LeBron James both praised first-year head coach JJ Redick after the Lakers’ playoff elimination at the hands of the Timberwolves.

Doncic and LeBron James both praised first-year head coach JJ Redick after the Lakers’ playoff elimination at the hands of the Timberwolves. / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

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Los Angeles Lakers

Minnesota Timberwolves

One of the biggest question marks surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers entering the 2024-25 season was their first-year coach JJ Redick’s experience, or lack thereof. Redick had played 15 seasons in the NBA but had never before been a coach in pro basketball, meaning he’d be learning on the fly while heading one of the most recognizable and in-the-spotlight teams in sports.

And even though Redick’s inaugural season in Los Angeles ended with a first-round playoff exit at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Lakers superstars Luka Doncic and LeBron James couldn’t have been more impressed with the job their coach did throughout a tumultuous season.Doncic called Redick a “hell of a coach.”

“Yeah I think he’s a hell of a coach,” Doncic said while speaking to reporters after the Lakers’ 103-96 loss to the Timberwolves Wednesday. “Not many coaches do the stuff he did in his first year—his rookie year, however you want to say it. So, I’m really glad I got coached by him these couple of months.”

“It feels sometimes like I’m back in Europe a little bit. So I love it. We have a great bond. It’s been nothing but amazing with him as a coach.”

James appreciated Redick’s ability to handle the pressure that comes with coaching the Lakers, as well as his ability to hold the club “accountable.””I think JJ’s going to continue to grow. Thought he had a hell of a rookie campaign for a rookie coach,” James said. “And it’s a lot different being a rookie coach. It’s already hard being a rookie coach in the NBA. And it’s a hell of a lot harder being a rookie head coach coaching the Lakers. It’s a whole ‘nother ballgame. And I thought he handled it extremely well.”

“I thought he just learned every single day, held us accountable. He pushed us.”

Redick helped lead Los Angeles to its first 50-win season since its championship-winning 2019-20 campaign, all while shifting the team to a new playstyle in the wake of the stunning Doncic trade. Redick wasn’t perfect (who is?) and it clearly wasn’t always fun to play for him.Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick lamented a fourth quarter non-call on a Luka Doncic trip that would have put his team on the free throw line with a chance to take the lead with 33 seconds to play.

With the Lakers trailing 114–113, Doncic ran the ball up the court, but appeared to be tripped by Minnesota Timberwolves wing Jaden McDaniels. Instead the officials determined that Doncic tripped over his own feet, and the Lakers were forced to use a timeout. Redick thought Doncic was fouled in the moment, as he lit into the officials after the no-call. Doncic would have been at the free throw line with a chance to give the Lakers the late lead, but instead, Los Angeles was forced to inbound the ball following the timeo⁸ut