Lakers' JJ Redick Hypes Thunder as '1 of the Greatest Teams Ever' Ahead of NBA Playoff Series

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick isn't looking to sugarcoat the daunting task his team will face in the upcoming Western Conference semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Redick had high praise for the reigning champion Thunder while speaking to reporters on Sunday, calling them "one of the greatest teams ever in NBA history, that's just the reality, they're that good."

Redick's lofty assessment isn't too far off, as the Thunder have been the class of the NBA for the past few seasons. Oklahoma City didn't take its foot off the gas after winning the 2025 NBA championship, finishing with the best record in the NBA at 64-18 despite dealing with injuries to key players throughout the year.

The Lakers haven't been able to figure out the Thunder at all this year, losing all four of their regular-season matchups. Per ESPN's Dave McMenamin, Oklahoma City won all four games by an average of 29.3 points, making this the most lopsided postseason second-round matchup in terms of regular-season point differential.

To make matters worse for the Lakers, ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Sunday that star guard Luka Doncic will remain out to start the series against the Thunder while he continues his recovery from a Grade 2 hamstring strain. One source described Doncic's recovery as "a slow path."

The Lakers got star guard Austin Reaves back in the lineup toward the end of the first round against the Houston Rockets following his recovery from an oblique injury. Los Angeles will be depending on Reaves and star forward LeBron James to lead the fight against Oklahoma City when the teams open their second-round series on Tuesday night.