Luka Doncic has received first-hand experience of how intense and scrutinized life is as a superstar in Los Angeles but at least he’s got his head coach’s full backing!
Luka Doncic’s trade to the LA Lakers will remain one of the most earth-shattering moves in NBA history even 100 years from now.
Therefore, it is understandable that every statement by Doncic is analyzed and scrutinized by the media, but now the Los Angeles Lakers are getting in on the act.
Just a few weeks after Luka Doncic claimed he noticed something at the Lakers that didn’t happen at the Dallas Mavericks, JJ Redick has now come out with facts to support that claim.
Nobody in their right mind is mistaking the Mavericks to be in the same zone as the Lakers when it comes to market size and scrutiny.
Therefore, when Doncic said that injured players seem to return in time to play the Lakers often, he effectively said the quiet part out loud.
Games against the Lakers are just like games at Madison Square Garden, every player is itching to make an impact when there are maximum eyeballs on the game.
Paul Pierce rejected Doncic’s claim at the time, although his Celtics ties might have something to do with it! Now, the Lakers head coach has come out with undeniable facts to back up his superstar.
Speaking after the Lakers’ win over the Grizzlies, Redick said that he had the analytics department at the team look into the numbers and they back up Doncic.
He said: “I think it’s like 86% of [opposing] payroll has been available to [play] us this year, which is by far No. 1 in the league.”
Redick is managing a very different team to the one he signed up for but that’s said in the best possible way.
The Lakers were pretenders with Anthony Davis, potentially a banana skin for a contender but nowhere near the favorites tag.
With Doncic’s arrival, there was not only a need to put together two ball-dominant superstars, but to also navigate a tricky situation.
Doncic was heartbroken after leaving Dallas so to get him feeling comfortable in Los Angeles and thrive is a testament to Redick’s man-management skills.
This statement about the Lakers’ analytic department might sound weird but this is the small backing that every superstar appreciates and feels validated for.
Good players in the NBA haven’t always made great coaches but Redick is bucking the trend by combining elite basketball IQ with smart man-management skills.
