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Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick credits the team’s health for its successful stretch in March.
In his second season as the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, JJ Redick has taken over as the lead man for one of the most historic franchises in basketball.
There have been some bumps and bruises along the way, but the Lakers are playing their best basketball of the 2025-26 season. Los Angeles had a 15-2 record in March and currently sits as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.
JJ Redick Says the Lakers’ Health has Helped in Recent Success.
“I think it was a confluence of things starting with health,” Redick said after the Lakers’ 127-113 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday. “I think it’s much easier when you have a consistent stretch of health to not even buy in but settle into roles and minutes and rotations. We never found that throughout the season. Another big part of that was the second part of roles is just, guys really embracing things.”
“I think, Luka (Dončić) has had as good of a month as anybody that I can remember in modern NBA, at least since I’ve been part of it. Certainly, LeBron (James) has had those, (James) Harden has had those, Steph (Curry) has had those, but he just played phenomenal this month and then everyone else just had huge impacts.”
In a tight-knit NBA MVP race, Luka Doncic has solidified his name in the conversation. In March, the 27-year-old averaged 37.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 2.4 steals, with 49.2/39.2/79.4 shooting splits.
Doncic is also the front-runner for the scoring title this season, leading the NBA in points per game (33.8). However, his recent play hasn’t discredited LeBron James and Austin Reaves.
James has added 20.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game, while Reaves puts up 23.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game of his own this season. The combination of Doncic, James, and Reaves contributes to just under 67% of the Lakers’ 116.8 points per game this season.
JJ Redick Breaks Down What Each Player Provides for the Lakers
The Lakers’ head coach broke down every player’s role in putting together winning basketball.
“AR (Austin Reaves) getting healthy, LeBron on both ends of the floor. DA (Deandre Ayton) and Jaxson (Hayes), really just filling in and doing what they need to do to help this team win at a high level. Luke (Kennard), Rui (Hachimura), their shooting, Jake (LaRavia) and (Marcus) Smart, their defense, Bronny (James Jr.), Vando (Jarred Vanderbilt), Maxi (Kleber), those guys had to play,” Redick said. “We just had a good contribution from everyone to the group.”
It’s been an impressive month for the Lakers, but there’s still plenty of work to do with six games remaining in the regular season.
It’s just 3.5 games that separate Los Angeles from the Minnesota Timberwolves, who hold the final playoff spot in the West. Although a top-six seed has been clinched, Los Angeles is going to do everything possible to secure the best seed in the playoffs.
It will be a tough path to the NBA Finals for the Lakers. The West also has juggernauts like the Oklahoma City Thunder (60-16) and San Antonio Spurs (58-18), who have the two best records in the NBA.
Toran Flores is a sports reporter located in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He’s covered news in the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, and college sports. His work has been featured on platforms like FanSided, Athlon Sports, The Sporting News, Lakers All Day Everyday, and others.
In his free time, Toran enjoys spending time with family and friends, staying active, and traveling. More about Toran Flores
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