After the Los Angeles Lakers suffered a crushing Game 5 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves—knocking them out of the playoffs in the first round—much of the blame was directed at star guard Luka Dončić and rookie head coach JJ Redick.
While Dončić put up strong offensive numbers—averaging 30.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 5.8 assists—his defensive struggles were exposed throughout the series. He posted a negative box score plus/minus in four of the five games and finished the series with a minus-24 overall.
Redick, meanwhile, drew criticism for some questionable decisions, especially in Game 4, where he played only five players in the second half. That strategy backfired as the Lakers surrendered a double-digit lead. In Game 5, his choice to leave Jaxson Hayes out despite the Lakers being dominated on the boards (54–37) raised further doubts.
Despite the tough series, Dončić stood firmly behind Redick. When asked postgame about playing under his former teammate-turned-coach, Dončić offered strong praise.
“I think he is a hell of a coach,” Dončić said. “Not many coaches do what he’s done in their first year. I’m happy I got to be coached by him, even for a short time. It kind of feels like I’m back in Europe sometimes. I love it. We’ve built a strong bond.”
Dončić confirmed he’ll return next season, though the Lakers’ roster and coaching situation remain uncertain. Still, the Slovenian star expressed satisfaction with his experience in Los Angeles.
“It’s been great, honestly,” he said. “The way the fans and the community welcomed me—it’s been incredible. I’ve had a great few months here. I’m still getting to know the city and the team. Just trying to take it all in.”
While the season may have ended in disappointment, Dončić’s support of Redick and his positive outlook on life in L.A. offer a silver lining for Lakers fans looking ahead.
