Lakers sit at 7-2 as Luka Doncic averages 38.5 points per game
Head coach JJ Redick credits his mentor Mike Krzyzewski for helping him refine a calm coaching style during his third season in Los Angeles.
By Sanjay Caldwell ·
The Los Angeles Lakers entered Thursday with a 7-2 record, holding the second-best scoring offense in the NBA at 121.8 points per game. Star guard Luka Doncic is driving that pace, averaging a league-leading 38.5 points per game along with 8.1 rebounds and 8.0 assists. The team faces the Portland Trail Blazers at Crypto.com Arena on Friday at 7 p.m.
Head coach JJ Redick is in the midst of his third season leading the Lakers. He reached the 50-win mark in consecutive seasons, a feat only Pat Riley, Paul Westhead, and Butch van Breda Kolff had previously achieved with the franchise. Redick is the 16th coach in NBA history to record 50-win seasons in his first two years.
Redick recently spoke with the Southern California News Group about his evolving approach to leadership. He noted that some habits that served him well as a player have become deterrents as a coach. He recalled that he played with inner anger to fuel his competitiveness, but he now believes calm is a more effective tool for his team.
“If your only way to get on them or hold them accountable is through anger, they’re going to tune that out,” Redick said. He added that getting players into the best possible headspace is more important than riling them up.
Mike Krzyzewski, who coached Redick at Duke from 2002 to 2006, offered his perspective on the 42-year-old coach. Krzyzewski, 79, said Redick operates under the theory that he is always becoming. This mindset keeps Redick willing to listen, learn, and adapt to new situations.
Krzyzewski noted that he considered Redick a friend long before the coaching role. He said they trust one another and speak honestly without pretense. Krzyzewski added that Redick’s recent retirement from playing in 2021 has increased his empathy for his current players, as he was teammates with Doncic and played against five of the Lakers’ current roster during his own career.
Redick said he values studying other coaches, noting that time spent with Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay was insightful. The Lakers will aim to extend their winning streak against Portland, relying on a defense that currently holds opponents to 113.9 points per game, the 17th best in the league.
