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USA Today via Reuters

USA Today via Reuters

“I mean, first of all, he couldn’t move at all, so it wasn’t.” This is what Luka Doncic had to say about his time with his new head coach, JJ Redick. The Slovenian didn’t even need to step on the court in Lakers gear before taking a playful jab at JJ! He said this in his introductory press conference. That said, he also made sure to show his respect and excitement about teaming up in L.A.

The Lakers’ blockbuster trade may have sent shockwaves through the NBA, but rookie HC JJ Redick has close to no time to reflect. “Unfortunately for me, this last month has been a lot, so I’m not in the reflective mood just yet,” he admitted when asked if he had processed the magnitude of the deal. “My job is to coach this team tonight. Try to get Luka acclimated and get him back on the court.”

The emotional weight of the trade wasn’t lost on him. JJ Redick acknowledged the difficulty of saying goodbye to key players, noting, “Certainly a lot of mixed emotions, particularly around the loss of family members. A.D., Max, Jalen, they were part of our family.”

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But at the same time, he recognized the rare opportunity in front of him. “As much as we can hyperbolize this trade as the craziest trade in sports history, it really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to trade for a player of Luka’s caliber in his prime.” It is indeed a rare opportunity. I can say for a fact that at least 50% of the older Mavs fanbase will never come to terms with reality. You would think twice before trading Luka; had it been a superstar on the other end, fair enough. But an aging AD? Come on.

Balancing the human side of the business with his role as a coach, JJ Redick emphasized empathy. “I’ve been traded twice. I’ve had really close friends traded. You don’t wave a magic wand and everything’s okay a day later… This is a process, and our group’s committed to making sure we get this right.”

It’s quite heartwarming at times to see how close teammates and coaches from the NBA sides can get. While talking about the same trade, Kyrie had mentioned something on similar lines, while he called the Slovenian sensation his ‘hermano’. But the show must go on. While Kai hinted that prying into the blockbuster trade deal was above his pay grade, he confidently hinted that the locker room’s current aim was to move on from this. So, what about the LA side’s locker room, then?

What’s your perspective on:

Is JJ Redick ready to handle the pressure of coaching Luka Doncic in the Lakers' spotlight?

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With the All-Star break approaching, JJ Redick isn’t dwelling on the past. His focus is clear—getting Luka settled in and keeping the Lakers’ momentum going! So when can we see him suiting up for the Lakers?

Luka Doncic to practice in full-contact drills soon

The Lakers’ future just got a serious upgrade with Luka Doncic in town. If he and LeBron James build chemistry fast, a title run isn’t out of the question. Adding a solid big man to replace Anthony Davis would make that even more realistic. But before all that, Doncic has to actually hit the court.

The 25-year-old hasn’t played since Christmas, making him ineligible for All-NBA honors after five straight selections. He strained his left calf in a loss to the Timberwolves, going down so hard he couldn’t even make it back on defense. That injury kept him out for 19 games, and just two games after returning, he went down again with a bruised left heel. This stretch has been rough, and Lakers fans are understandably anxious since he has played 70 games in a season only once since his rookie year…

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Rob Pelinka confirmed Luka Doncic will join full-contact drills on Wednesday, with a return likely before the Lakers wrap up their 3-game homestand. Doncic isn’t making the same mistake of rushing back. “For the first time, I took my time (to) get it to heal 100%,” he admitted.

via Imago

Once he’s back, he’ll take over ball-handling duties, pushing Austin Reaves off-ball and making life easier for LeBron James, who’s been vocal about wanting to play off the ball more. Defense is another story without Anthony Davis, but with two generational scorers running the show, the Lakers might just outgun their way to wins. What do you think?

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Is JJ Redick ready to handle the pressure of coaching Luka Doncic in the Lakers' spotlight?

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