JJ Redick and Luka Doncic. Image via: Michael Reaves/ Getty Images
JJ Redick did not need long to address the moment. As Luka Doncic sidelined after his latest technical foul, many anticipated how the team would respond and what it said about the star’s mindset.
Doncic has been playing some of his best basketball of the season, pushing hard in the MVP race while guiding the Los Angeles Lakers through a strong stretch.Now, a one-game suspension interrupts that rhythm. It comes at a point where every game matters, even if the immediate matchup offers some relief. Still, for Redick, the conversation was less about absence and more about understanding the player behind it.
JJ Redick reacts to Luka Doncic’s suspension
JJ Redick reacts to Luka Doncic’s suspension. Image via: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Speaking before the Lakers’ game against the Washington Wizards, JJ Redick explained that he is familiar with Luka Doncic’s mindset since their time in Dallas Mavericks.
“I mean, he’s disappointed. He wants to be there for his teammates. I’ve talked about this all year. He plays. He’s not a guy who takes games off. He can be banged up, and he’s still going to play. He was like that when I was his teammate in Dallas.”The suspension came after Doncic picked up his 16th technical foul during a win over the Brooklyn Nets, following a heated exchange with Ziaire Williams. Under league rules, that number triggers an automatic one-game ban without pay.
For the Lakers, the timing could have been worse. The Wizards sit near the bottom of the standings, and the roster still features enough firepower with LeBron James and Austin Reaves leading the way. Redick even hinted at rotation flexibility, with younger names like Bronny James possibly seeing more minutes if the game opens up.Games against the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder are coming fast. Keeping Doncic fresh for that stretch may soften the blow of this absence.
Luka Doncic reacts following suspension without pay
Luka Doncic. Image via: Chris Szagola/ AP
Doncic did not shy away from the incident itself. His explanation carried a mix of frustration and restraint, reflecting how quickly things escalated.“He [yelled] in my face three times. I just wanted to get out of there. It’s a double tech, of course. What can I say?“I didn’t even talk. I just wanted to get out of there. And they said I pushed. My push was exaggerated, which was obviously not. And I don’t know what else to tell you.”It is the first time in his career that technical fouls have cost him a game. In previous seasons, he had come close but never crossed that line.
