Lakers head coach JJ Redick described Luka Doncic’s 60-point effort against the Miami Heat as a “superhero performance,” noting the impact despite a quick turnaround. “I thought him really getting us, keeping us afloat early was really important,” Redick said, emphasizing Doncic’s role in stabilizing the team.
Redick highlighted the contributions of supporting groups, saying, “The group that started obviously the second half that got us the lead was great. But he just made big shots, he made tough shots, made a lot of right reads.” He cited a specific play, noting, “The horns, the horns chin clear that we ran for the offball three, was just a big-time screen from DA, big-time pass from LeBron, and a big-time shot from Luka.”
On Doncic’s scoring consistency, Redick reflected, “Luka’s led the league in scoring most of the season, but if you asked him in December or January, he said several times that he didn’t feel like he was playing his best ball yet. He has been elite now for more than six weeks.” He attributed the improvement to clarity of mind, saying, “He typically performs at his best when he’s clear-headed, and that’s what we’ve spent a lot of the season trying to get to, not just for him but for all our guys.”
Addressing Doncic’s place in the MVP conversation, Redick humorously noted, “Cuz he complains to the refs. I don’t know… sometimes when you have a guy who is a scorer who’s ball dominant, it can maybe alienate teammates. Tonight, especially over the last two months, it feels like all hands are pulling in the same direction in a lot of ways.”
Redick also commented on the team’s chemistry, reflecting on their reactions to Doncic’s performance: “We saw this last night when he closed the Rockets out. His teammates have been enjoying it probably just as much as he is right now. It’s a special run that he’s on, and we’ve seen all-time greats go on these runs.”
Regarding external narratives about the Lakers’ championship potential, Redick said, “That’s external noise. Our mindset since day one is to continue to get better, to continue to build our habits, continue to connect as teammates and coaches. I told you guys a few weeks ago I was confident this group would get to a good place. We’re in a good place. I don’t care if you call us championship contenders or not; it doesn’t matter to me.”
The remarks followed Los Angeles’ 134-126 win over Miami on Thursday at Kaseya Center, in which Doncic made 18 of 30 field goals, nine of 17 from three, and 15 of 19 free throws, while LeBron James recorded a triple-double of 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists. The Lakers improved to 45-25, extending their winning streak to eight games, while the Heat dropped to 38-32.
