In just a couple of months working together as Lakers, Luka Dončić and JJ Redick have already developed a partnership they can build upon for years to come.
With Luka Dončić getting traded to the Lakers midseason, there wasn’t time to ease into things.
Once he returned from his calf strain, he hit the ground running and managed to get the team to the 50-win mark, which guaranteed them a playoff spot and the third seed in the West.
Luka accomplished this largely because he is a superstar All-NBA talent, but coaching also played a factor. JJ Redick got Luka up to speed with his system, and the two seem to have clicked quite well.
During Luka’s exit interview, he gave a glowing recommendation to the first-year head coach.
“I think he’s a hell of a coach,” Dončić said. “Not many coaches do the stuff he did in his first year, his rookie year. So I’m really glad I got coached by him these couple of months. I feel sometimes like I’m back in Europe a little bit, so I love it. We have a great bond, so it’s been nothing but amazing with him as a coach.”
Luka grew up playing all over Europe, and if getting coached by Redick reminds him of those years, then that’s a good sign. While the kinship with Redick as player and coach is still developing, they’ve had a friendship prior to this partnership.
They played together during the 2020-21 season in Dallas, and when Redick was podcasting, Luka appeared on his show. A person like Luka isn’t willingly doing non-required media work for someone they don’t like.
“Everybody says my game looks easy. It’s not easy. Trust me.”
Full episode with @luka7doncic and @jj_redick drops 2/9: https://t.co/8aNa2o8CT9 pic.twitter.com/PS92zBIH4z
— TheYoungManAndTheThree (@OldManAndThree) February 8, 2024
In his exit interview, Redick discussed the connection he already has with his superstar.
“I think that bond that was already there gave us a great starting point as player-coach,” Redick said. “I think our first conversation when he flew into LA that night, he wants to be coached, he wants to be held accountable. He’s expressed to me and what I’ve expressed to him is very similar: I want to bring out the best version of Luka and that’s what he wants for me.
“That’s the partnership going forward. That’s the expectation and that’s sort of the baseline of what we’re trying to do. Let’s try to bring out the best version of Luka and hopefully win a championship doing that.”
This pairing will have a full year to work together next season, which should scare everyone else in the NBA.
Not only will Luka improve as a Laker, but Redick understands he can “get a lot better” as a coach.
With Luka ready to absorb all the information Redick is willing to instill in him, this collaboration has a great chance of dominating the league for years.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.