Lakers’ Redick describes sideline altercation with Doncic as ‘quite typical’
LOS ANGELES — Following a tense exchange on the bench between JJ Redick and Luka Doncic that circulated widely online, the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers remarked that he was unsure why the incident attracted such significant attention.
“I don’t know why it went viral,” Redick stated prior to the Lakers’ matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday. “It seemed quite ordinary to me.”
The incident in question took place during L.A.’s 129-101 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday, when Doncic was taken out of the game and returned to the bench without acknowledging Redick’s fist bump.
Redick followed Doncic along the sideline, and the two exchanged some intense words before Redick moved back toward halfcourt. After Redick left the area, Doncic stood up to express further frustration towards his coach, prompting Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt to rise from his seat and clap his hands to create a buffer between them.
“I didn’t think much of it at the time, to be honest,” Redick commented. “I don’t believe Luka did either. He and I share a strong relationship, which I truly value. These moments occur; not in every game, but they happen quite often. Sometimes, you need to revisit them with a player or as a teammate. Occasionally, it happens between players.”
“It’s a competitive environment. And in this instance, there are two individuals striving to win a basketball game and align on various matters.”
L.A. had entered the Golden State game on a three-game losing streak, including narrow defeats against Orlando and Phoenix.
When questioned about the Redick-Doncic incident, a Lakers source downplayed any significant implications, stating to ESPN, “Find me a star on a three-game losing streak in the NBA who isn’t feeling frustrated.”
A source close to Doncic informed ESPN that the two “maintain a strong, close bond,” noting that they are “both highly competitive and consistently motivate each other.”
Doncic concluded the Warriors game with 26 points and 8 assists. L.A. also secured a victory in their subsequent game, defeating the Sacramento Kings 128-104, with Doncic contributing 28 points and 9 assists.
Redick was inquired about how he manages external perceptions—specifically, how a segment of the fanbase misinterpreted a tense moment with one of his players as something more significant—while concentrating on coaching his team.
“It just feels normal, which is likely part of the reason I wanted to coach the Lakers,” Redick said with a chuckle. “I was discussing it with Luka. We were actually laughing about it. I mentioned, ‘I didn’t sense any tension.’ He replied, ‘Nah, I didn’t care about it.’
“You address it and move forward. The reality is, everyone will always have an opinion. Since the inception of professional sports, opinions have existed. There have been sports talk shows, barbershop discussions, chat rooms. Everyone has had an opinion. Now, those opinions are more readily available. It’s simply more amplified now, but it’s a normal occurrence.”
