JJ Redick, along with the whole Los Angeles Lakers locker room, were pleased to have Luka Doncic on the roster. While the Slovenian superstar did not immediately make his Laker debut, coach Redick still had reasons to smile at him.
Coach Redick recently addressed a moment that went viral during a game against the Indiana Pacers, which featured a light-hearted interaction between him and new teammate Luka Doncic. As the game wound down, cameras caught Redick looking at Doncic, who was in street clothes, and breaking into a smile. This was quickly followed by Redick shaking his head and appearing to say “stop.”
Fans speculated that Redick’s reaction was due to his excitement about having a superstar like Doncic on his team, but the reality was a bit more humorous. In his explanation, Redick clarified that his grin was actually prompted by something Doncic said, which he jokingly deemed “stupid.”
“Luka said something stupid, which made me laugh. It is not the first time. You certainly want to enjoy coaching and you want to enjoy every moment in a game. But there are moments when you have to remind yourself to lock in. So that happens. But it was not because I was staring at Luka anticipating coaching him. I think he legitimately said something dumb and I laughed at that,” Redick explained his laugh.
JJ Redick explains what happened in the clip that went viral of him smiling at Luka.
— Showtime Luka (@showtimeluka) February 13, 2025
“I think Luka said something stupid” 😂@SpectrumSN pic.twitter.com/L6IhWK0zBU
However, he couldn’t recall the exact words Doncic used but mentioned it had to do with him being an elite defender and asserted that he laughed at the quirkiness of the comment.
“I don’t know – something about him being an elite defender. I’m not a duck. I don’t know, something like that,” Redick added.
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Also Read: Kim Kardashian Makes A Bizarre Request For Luka Doncic After Blockbuster Lakers Trade
Luka Doncic Makes Television History With Lakers Debut Game
The Lakers are currently enjoying a successful season, with a 32-19 record, and the addition of Doncic has brought new excitement to the franchise. Redick’s fresh coaching style has led to noticeable improvements, making the team a legitimate contender for the title.
However, his debut as a Los Angeles Laker was nothing short of electric. He has captivated fans and set television ratings ablaze. During the matchup against the Utah Jazz on February 12, the game drew an impressive average of 2.01 million viewers on ESPN.
Luka Dončić's @Lakers debut against the @utahjazz on Monday averaged 2.01M viewers pic.twitter.com/rioiHzzBhH
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) February 12, 2025
The staggering number made it as the 15th most-watched NBA game of the season. The excitement peaked during the second quarter, where viewership reached 2.55 million, despite the late 10:30 p.m. ET start and a lopsided scoreline of 132-113 in favor of the Lakers.
The excitement around Doncic’s first game in L.A. stemmed from his recent trade from the Dallas Mavericks and the fact that he had not played in over 40 days due to a calf strain. Even with limited preparation, Doncic managed to make his mark. He scored 14 points, grabbed five rebounds, and dished out four assists in just 24 minutes of play.
The decision to air this game instead of his originally scheduled debut against the Indiana Pacers proved to be a masterstroke for ESPN. It also became the most-watched NBA game on cable since Klay Thompson’s return to action in November 2023.
Also Read: Former NBA Champion Compares Luka Doncic To Lakers Legend For His Elite Game Control
