By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, JJ Redick, opened up on a team meeting before team practice on Saturday, without naming specific players.
“Recalibration. Reconnection,” the 41-year-old play-caller pointed to the goals of talks between coaches and players after three consecutive losing efforts in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season.
“We came in super early. And we met with the players. It was very positive. It was also listening for our staff, myself, to listen to players, what they need,” he added in a media session after practice.
With the next question labeling the meeting with Slovenian superstar Luka Doncic and the other members of the roster as uncomfortable, Redick countered that the truth is generally painful.
“You have to put everything out there,” he explained the process. “The group feels it. They are on the court together. They are in the huddles together. There wasn’t anything that needed to be addressed that wasn’t addressed. As a coach, you can’t address everything, every day, in front of the group. It’s just not how this works.”
“My staff and I, we do a good job. When something needs to be addressed in the moment, it gets addressed. I don’t feel like we live in a massively aggressive environment. Sometimes you need to have a bigger setting,” he continued.
Clarity emerged as the main theme in the meeting.
“Getting back to basics and understanding the needs of the team, and of each guy, for creating more clarity, a word we used a lot today,” Redick further painted the picture.
“Defensive clarity, role clarity, and in-offense organization,” he named areas requiring improvement.
Meanwhile, Austin Reaves (left calf strain) is expected to be sidelined for at least one month. Resuming action on Sunday against the Sacramento Kings in crypto.com Arena, the Lakers also ruled out Gabe Vincent (lumbar back strain), listed Jaxson Hayes (left ankle soreness) as doubtful, and Drew Timme (concussion protocol) as questionable.
At 19-10, the Lakers are currently tied for fourth in the Western Conference standings, six games away from the leading Oklahoma City Thunder.