Head coach JJ Redick described Luka Doncic as a “major stakeholder” in the Los Angeles Lakers’ fortunes while urging his roster to regain the consistency that lifted the club into the Western Conference’s top six earlier this season.
Doncic leads the NBA in scoring but the Lakers remain a middle-of-the-pack team, highlighted by a recent loss to the Orlando Magic when the All-Star guard bypassed an open three-pointer in the final seconds. “I thought we could get another shot,” Doncic said after the defeat, which cost Los Angeles a valuable victory in the playoff race.
Speaking before a Feb. 28 matchup against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center in San Francisco, Redick emphasized the responsibility shouldered by the team’s marquee players. “With Luka, Austin Reaves, LeBron James — all those guys — there’s a responsibility that comes with being the best players, and Luka has accepted that,” Redick said. “We haven’t played great since the break. We’ve got 24 games to find that level of consistency and togetherness we’ve shown at different points.”
Despite uneven play, the Lakers remain firmly in the postseason mix, largely on the strength of Doncic’s scoring outbursts and the defensive attention he commands. Redick expressed confidence the group can rediscover its early-season form down the stretch.
Off the court, newly appointed President of Business Operations Lon Rosen — credited with expanding the Los Angeles Dodgers’ international profile — said he intends to elevate Doncic’s global reach as part of the organization’s business strategy.
Source: LakersNation.com
