A drama-filled Los Angeles Lakers regular season took another turn after star player Luka Dončić earned his 16th technical foul this season. Dončić is now suspended for the team’s upcoming home game against the Washington Wizards. Lakers head coach JJ Redick’s coaching job against the Wizards may be a little harder, and he gave some insight into Dončić’s current mindset.
What JJ Redick Said About Luka Dončić’s Mindset Following Suspension
Redick revealed Dončić’s current mindset while speaking to the media. Redick said, “I mean, he’s disappointed. He wants to be there for his teammates. Again, I’ve talked about this all year, like, he plays. Like, he’s not a guy that takes games off. Can get banged up, he’s gonna play. He was like that when I was his teammate in Dallas.”
JJ Redick on Luka Doncic’s one-game suspension: “He’s disappointed. He wants to be there for his teammates…we’re gonna need everybody tomorrow.” pic.twitter.com/fMxNtukc3Z
— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) March 29, 2026
A fiery player whose temper can get the best of him at times, Dončić was involved in a brief scuffle with Brooklyn Nets wing Ziaire Williams to earn his 16th technical foul during the Lakers’ 116-99 win. His absence comes at a pivotal time for the team, as they are battling the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Houston Rockets in a race to secure a top-four seed and home-court advantage in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
Redick’s statement sounds like Dončić is remorseful for his actions and may learn from them. If there is one silver lining for Lakers fans in this situation, it’s that Dončić’s suspension comes while the team is facing one of the worst teams in the NBA this season.
At 17-56, the Wizards have been eliminated from the playoff race for several weeks and are often mentioned as clearly tanking. The team recently snapped a 16-game losing streak, highlighted, or perhaps low-lighted, by allowing Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo to score 83 points. Multi-time All-Stars Trae Young and Anthony Davis are unlikely to play again this season.
MORE: Luka Dončić Matches Michael Jordan’s Impressive Milestone After 500+ Points, 100+ Assists In a Month
Redick isn’t looking past the Wizards, but this is still a very winnable matchup even without Dončić in the lineup. Redick mentioned guys like Bronny James and Maxi Kleber, who have been in and out of the rotation, potentially getting minutes, especially if the Lakers build a big lead.
While luck may have been on Dončić’s side, perhaps Redick’s statement is a sign that he understands that he could have put the team in a much tougher situation.
