For a team that has been in the Western Conference playoff picture all season long, the Los Angeles Lakers have certainly been through quite a bit of turmoil. The latest supposed twist is that Luka Dončić and head JJ Redick aren’t getting along, but that might not necessarily be the case.
Insider Reveals Luka Dončić’s Chemistry With JJ Redick Amid Conflict Speculations
A recent video went viral depicting a clear disconnect between Dončić and Redick, as if Redick tried to get the Lakers’ star’s attention, only to be blown off.
Yeah, because among everything that’s happened with the Lakers this season, this is exactly what the fans need to see. Luckily, there’s a saving grace here. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported that Dončić and Redick have a close bond.
“A source close to Luka told me that him and JJ have a strong close relationship that dates back nearly a decade,” McMenamin said. “They’re both fiercely competitive and they push one another. A team source said, ‘Find me a star in the NBA that isn’t frustrated amidst a three-game losing streak.’ It’s much ado about nothing, but hey we know the internet likes to have their fun.”
McMenamin elaborated that instances like Redick’s and Dončić’s sometimes occur because of their similar natures.
“In this case, if you have been around an NBA basketball team full of people who live for competition, sometimes it gets a little messy when they’re trying to go towards a common goal.”
“A source close to Luka told me that him and JJ have a strong close relationship that dates back nearly a decade and they’re both fiercely competitive and they push one another. A team source said find me a star in the NBA that isn’t frustrated amidst a 3 game losing streak. It’s… https://t.co/ohH5ZnxhQC pic.twitter.com/4RQkPIATkd
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) March 3, 2026
Fun fact that not many people remember: Dončić and Redick were teammates on the Dallas Mavericks for a brief period in 2021. They had familiarity before Dončić came to the Lakers last year.
What McMenamin says is true. Both players and coaches are driven to win, and the Lakers are not doing that right now. In fact, as more time has progressed, the red flags are starting to show. The season isn’t over, but it hasn’t been looking too good for the Lakers, either. It makes sense that this happens, but it doesn’t mean that the bottom has fallen out. At least not yet.
Hopefully, from what McMenamin says here, there’s nothing much to read into. Especially if the Lakers plan to keep both long-term. Even if this season doesn’t work out, they have time to figure out how to make this work. If anything, this could strengthen their bond down the line.
It’s fair to assume that the honeymoon phase is probably over between Dončić and the Lakers. The next phase is getting past this rough patch.
