Luka Doncic Takes a Subtle Jab at His Former Dallas Mavericks Coach While Heaping Praises on JJ Redick

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Mar 18, 2025, 17:47 IST

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Luka Doncic was surprised by his trade from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers but has been thriving under head coach JJ Redick. Doncic appreciates the tailored gameplay which has led him to win 10 out of 15 games, contrasting his previous working relationship with Dallas head coach Jason Kidd.

Luka Doncic Takes a Subtle Jab at His Former Dallas Mavericks Coach While Heaping Praises on JJ Redick

Luka Doncic and JJ Redick (Image via: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images)

It was a calm and quiet February day that suddenly went completely off the rails when the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers announced their deal to exchange players like Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis. For Doncic it was a complete surprise who did not even know that a deal was being made behind his back. But well, once the contract was signed, there was nothing for him to do but pack up his bags (and life) and move from Dallas to Los Angeles. But now that he has somewhat settled in with his new team, the young Slovenian player is slowly but surely making his mark.

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick's gameplay suits Luka Doncic well

Ever since he joined the LA Lakers, Luka Doncic has been making strides in his career. He has won 10 out of the 15 games he has played for the Lakers so far. And he is crediting his head coach, JJ Redick, for letting him set things at his pace. Redick has made sure that the team's gameplay caters to Doncic's strength on the court and has allowed him to shine in the process.

Luka Doncic Shares Praise For JJ Redick & Austin Reaves After Lakers Win Over Spurs

"Makes my life easier. Those actions that he put ... There was one ATO (after timeout) today, where we ran it twice and we just scored on alley-oops, so that explains JJ's mind. The way he sees basketball, it's amazing."
Doncic heaping praises on his head coach is nothing new, as he has previously also stated that Redick is one of the people who has made sure that his transition went smoothly and without any hiccups. But some are also speculating that this may also be his way to subtly take a jab at his former coach.

Is Luka Doncic dissing Jason Kidd?

Luka Doncic's previous coach, Jason Kidd, who is the head coach for the Dallas Mavericks, was not as easy to work with. While he and Doncic had a pretty great working relationship, it was not without some issues. While Redick has been letting Doncic keep the ball and set the pace of the game, as that is what he is more comfortable with, Kidd had a different strategy.

Kidd believed Luka should learn to play without the ball, as it would help him become more well-rounded. But given the 26-year-old wasn't well equipped in off-ball gameplay, it was difficult for him to adjust. Kidd thought that was the way to go for the best interest of the time; unfortunately, it ended up being a block in the road for their star player.
Also Read: Luka Doncic Reveals His On-court Alter Ego: Inside The Los Angeles Lakers Star's Fiery Transformation And Why He's Leaving The Past Behind

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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