Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick heaped praise on veteran LeBron James for his mid-game dive for a loose ball, calling it the game-changer over Luka Dončić’s game-winning shot in the final seconds. Dončić was nothing short of phenomenal on the court, but King James, who returned from hip and foot issues, was also a key member of the squad’s 127-125 win in overtime.
Lakers Head Coach JJ Redick Heaps Praise on LeBron James
James has been playing his 23rd NBA season at 41 and continues to remain active when his health permits. He missed 14 games at the start of the season due to sciatica, followed by a couple more for elbow, hip, and foot injuries. Most recently, he sat out three games in a row due to left foot arthritis and a right hip contusion.
After returning in the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Chicago Bulls on March 13, 2026, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer was not the team’s top scorer in the March 14 contest against Denver, but remained a key presence on the floor while Luka Dončić led the charge. He recorded 17 points, six rebounds, and five assists while shooting 7-for-13 from the field and 2-for-3 from the free-throw line in approximately 40 minutes of play.
However, one special move of his caught all the attention, especially that of head coach Redick. The latter even overlooked Dončić’s 17-foot fadeaway that sealed the win and instead praised the 41-year-old for diving for a loose ball to prevent Denver from getting an offensive rebound with just 54.3 seconds left on the clock, something King James had never done in his 23-year NBA career.
“I told him after the game, I said, in 23 years of watching you play in the NBA, and three years I watched you play in high school, I never saw you make a full-out extension dive like that. He said, ‘You’re right, I’ve never done that.’ It’s awesome, that’s a winning play,” Redick said in a press conference.
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LeBron James, who has won four NBA championships from 10 NBA Finals appearances, was not keen on highlighting his own performance but instead lauded Luka Dončić, believing the guard has many more game-winners up his sleeve in the future.
“Just a big-time shot by a generational player,” James said. “He’s just a big-time player, man. It’s going to be just the first of many game winners like that for him in a Lakers uniform.”
In the game, Austin Reaves made a huge impact with 32 points and hit a remarkable shot to push the game into overtime as the contest came down to the wire. Marcus Smart’s clutch performance then produced his fifth 3-pointer of the night, giving the Los Angeles Lakers a significant lead and ultimately helping orchestrate the win.
