Luka Doncic reflected on his short time with the Los Angeles Lakers following their first-round playoff exit, highlighting the impact of first-year head coach JJ Redick.
Speaking to reporters after the Lakers’ 103-96 Game 5 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Doncic said, “I feel sometimes like I’m back in Europe a little bit,” when describing Redick’s coaching approach.
The 26-year-old guard credited Redick for his adaptability and structure, noting that “not many coaches do the stuff he did in his first year.”
Doncic played under Redick for just a few months after being traded midseason from Dallas, but emphasized the bond they quickly built: “It’s been nothing but amazing with him as a coach.”
The Lakers were eliminated in the opening round despite Doncic’s 28 points and nine assists in Game 5.
Minnesota advanced by winning three straight games after trailing 2-1, powered by Rudy Gobert’s 27-point, 24-rebound performance and a dominating 54-37 rebounding edge.
Los Angeles failed to capitalize on their midseason acquisition of Doncic, marking the franchise’s fourth first-round exit in five years.
Doncic acknowledged the challenges of building on-court chemistry without significant practice time, especially when sharing ball-handling duties with LeBron James and Austin Reaves.
“It’s tough to get that chemistry on the court without any practices,” Doncic said. “I’m really excited to have the preseason with those two.”
He compared the situation to his first months with Kyrie Irving in Dallas, when a lack of familiarity affected their initial synergy.
Though appreciative of his time in Los Angeles, Doncic admitted he was “mentally kind of exhausted” after a season filled with changes and expectations.
He also revealed that his back “is not good at all” after a hard fall during Game 5 but pushed through to play.
When asked about his future and extension eligibility on August 2, Doncic stated he hadn’t considered it yet, emphasizing his current focus is on recovery and reflection.
Redick, a former teammate of Doncic in Dallas, took over head coaching duties before the 2024-25 season following coaching instability and was praised for implementing a system that reminded Doncic of his European roots.
The Lakers now face an uncertain offseason with questions surrounding both the roster and the front office following another early playoff exit.
Meanwhile, Minnesota advances to face the winner of the Golden State–Houston series, which resumes Friday with the Warriors holding a 3-2 lead.
