Lakers' Redick Wants to Unlock 'Best Version' of Luka Doncic After NBA Playoff Exit

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick is focused on maximizing the potential of superstar Luka Dončić following the team's playoff elimination on Wednesday night.

"Our first conversation was that he wants to be coached, he wants to be held accountable ... I want to bring out the best version of Luka," Redick said Thursday, per team reporter Mike Trudell. "That’s what he wants from me. That's the partnership going forward. That's the expectation, the baseline of what we're trying to do. Let’s try to bring out the best version of Luka and hopefully win a championship doing that.”

Dončić ending the 2024-25 season as a member of the Lakers may have seemed unlikely when the year started, but Los Angeles ended up acquiring him in a shocking blockbuster trade involving the Dallas Mavericks on Feb. 2.

While the 26-year-old dealt with a calf strain in Dallas and underwent a change of scenery in the middle of the season, it's still worth noting that his production during his 2024-25 campaign represented a step down from his exceptional career as of late.

Dončić averaged 28.2 points per game on the season, his lowest scoring average since the 2020-21 season. He also shot 45.0 percent from the field, his worst percentage since his rookie year in 2019.

The five-time All-Star also connected on a mere 43.8 percent of his field goals as a member of the Lakers following the trade. The team was eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games during the first round of the 2025 playoffs.

Given the age of Dončić as well as his tumultuous season, it's fair to assume that he'll make improvements in certain areas of his game with a full offseason in Los Angeles under his belt.

Redick also confirmed that he'll be focused on helping Dončić continue to elevate his performance.