Remove LeBron James from the roster for a few weeks, and the whole dynamic changes. The Los Angeles Lakers lost their opener to the Golden State Warriors, 109-119, and suddenly, small decisions have started to matter big. JJ Redick, to his credit, spent a hot mic moment trying to square the long view with the short-term effort, and then corrected himself before the sentence cooled.

When asked about how LeBron James would eventually fit into the mix after the team’s early games without him, JJ Redick didn’t sidestep the complexity of the question. The reporter framed it around the challenge of building chemistry with the current group while knowing that a “huge piece” was still waiting to be reinserted into the lineup, which, well, seems to be a fair concern for any coach trying to establish rhythm and roles this early.

JJ started, “It’s hard to forget about LeBron. The reality is when you’re focused on the group that you have, you you got to make that group work. Um, so it’s sometimes you can just be like, “Oh, oh my god, we’re going to get LeBron back at some point.” Like it’s awesome, but you, you you are focused.” But he did not stop there. 

Sixteen seconds later, Redick added a practical aside that showed how quickly a coach toggles between strategy and improvisation.

Redick continued, “I’ll be honest with you, I did have one moment in that first half when we had a few possessions we couldn’t score against the zone. I think it’d be great to have LeBron just to throw it to the high post.” Now, the sequencing of his words matters here. 

First, he insists that the group at hand must find answers. Then he admits there are moments where a player of LeBron’s size and IQ would be a unique weapon. But he intends to keep the plan the same for the Los Angeles Lakers‘ roster, no matter which player goes absent, even for a while. 

When asked about Rui Hachimura’s role and his utilization since LeBron is out of the lineup, Coach Redick said, “Same plan as always. Yeah. We’re not going to ask a guy to change their role because someone’s out of the lineup. He’s got to stick to doing what he does best.”

And to be fair, Redick is deliberate here. Keep the roles intact, trust the processes. But the game, as well as the box score, keeps nudging the narrative.

LeBron’s absence and how it affects the Lakers’ roster

LeBron’s right-side sciatica kept him out of the opener, and the three-to-four-week timeline means the Lakers must re-run the season’s opening chapter without their veteran anchor. The perceptions are blunt as chemistry with new pieces like Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart is delayed. Practice reps are postponed, and hope, as we know it, is measured in weeks now.

Redick’s first answer was the coach’s answer. Make the available players better. The second was the player-level confession, indicating that sometimes a coach just wants the sure hand at the high post. Rui Hachimura hears the same script most role players do. He’s in line for minutes, opportunities, and, yes, an eventual contract reckoning. “It’s the business side of it. I know I can’t really do anything about it,” he said on Lakers’ Media Day.

“I just got to play my game. I just got to do whatever I need to do to help this team to win this year. It’s not going to be for me to kind of think about it, to do anything about it, because I can’t do anything about. It’s out of my control, so I think I’ll just do whatever I need to do to help this team to win, and then whatever comes after, it comes with it.”

The Warriors beat the Lakers 119-109 in the opener. Rui logged 35 minutes and finished with 9 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. Not exactly the splash headline fans wanted, but it was the kind of steadiness coaches value. The box score didn’t ask for a LeBron-sized answer. It asked about the process.

For now, the Lakers have to win the small games. They must squeeze value from Reaves, Hachimura, Ayton, and Smart. They must keep players confident while waiting for LeBron to return. Redick made the media moment human. And luckily enough, we can expect more of that from him.

A coach who speaks in process, then candidly admits where a generational talent would solve a micro-problem. Expect a team that will try to hold form until the King’s return. And expect the hot takes to keep coming, because in Los Angeles, absence and presence move headlines in the same sentence.