The Los Angeles Lakers’ 136-120 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 8 didn’t just sting on the scoreboard—it delivered a coaching lesson JJ Redick won’t soon forget. In just his first year as an NBA head coach, Redick is already feeling the weight of high-stakes decisions, media scrutiny, and, yes, those pesky referees. But after a rollercoaster night in OKC, the former sharpshooter admitted to one glaring error—and chose to stay tight-lipped on another to avoid coughing up thousands.
Following the game, Redick was brutally honest about a late-game decision he wished he had back. With the Lakers down five and momentum slipping away, LeBron James sat on the bench a little too long for comfort. By the time Redick called him back in, the Thunder had already seized control with a swing of their own.
“I’m kicking myself. Could have called it [a timeout] a possession earlier, gotten LeBron back in the game,” Redick admitted. “We got down five, turned it over. They come back in and one called it… I was trying to eat a little bit more time.”
Mar 20, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick on the sidelines against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images
Redick’s explanation centered around managing rotations during the second night of a back-to-back, compounded by the fact that L.A. had already burned their challenge and only had one timeout left. But strategy or not, the delay cost them dearly. “Just trying to manage… back-to-back games that we need to win,” Redick said. “It was a great game that unfortunately didn’t get to sort of finish out the way every basketball fan would want.”
With Luka Doncic ejected just minutes earlier, the Thunder seized the opportunity, going on a 28-11 run and closing the game in commanding fashion.
Luka Ejection Drama: The Moment Redick Didn’t Touch
But while Redick had no problem admitting his tactical miscue with LeBron, there was one topic he very clearly steered away from—Luka Doncic’s controversial ejection.
Early in the fourth quarter, right after Doncic drilled a go-ahead jumper to put the Lakers up 108-107, he turned and said something to a courtside fan. Referee J.T. Orr interpreted the remark as being directed at him and hit Doncic with his second technical foul, resulting in an automatic ejection. Luka was stunned. The fans were outraged. And Redick? Silent.
Why?
Well, it doesn’t take a detective to figure it out. Redick’s already dipped his toe in the league’s disciplinary waters earlier this season when he was fined $2,000 for arguing a no-call involving Lakers player Jemison back in February. That fine came from a relatively minor exchange. Had Redick criticized the officiating after Luka’s ejection, it could’ve cost him at least five figures.
Instead, Redick went the diplomatic route—biting his tongue, focusing on team effort, and avoiding a headline-grabbing league fine. Smart move? Financially, absolutely! But the silence didn’t go unnoticed by fans and analysts alike.
Feb 10, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) is greeted by head coach JJ Redick during a time out against the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Before his untimely exit, Doncic was doing Luka things: 23 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists, helping guide the Lakers to a slim lead in a high-stakes game. It was his fourth career ejection, and first as a Laker, following three with the Dallas Mavericks.
The momentum shift after his departure was undeniable. The Thunder, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 42-point explosion, took over. Jalen Williams added 26 of his own, while OKC locked in defensively, forcing 19 Lakers turnovers and setting a new franchise record with their 65th win of the season.
The loss drops L.A. to 48-31, and while the postseason isn’t in doubt, the cohesion and composure of the team—especially under Redick’s leadership—will be under the microscope moving forward. Adding to the drama? The Lakers face Luka’s former team, the Dallas Mavericks, on April 9 in what promises to be an emotional return to the city where he became a star. Whether Redick will lean on LeBron earlier this time—or risk another silence over the whistleblowers in stripes—remains to be seen.
But one thing’s clear: Coaching the Lakers isn’t just about drawing up plays. It’s about timing, politics, and knowing when to speak… and when to keep that wallet shut!
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