Golf Outings Strengthen Lakers’ Bond, Coach JJ Redick Says
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Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick believes time on the golf course has tightened the team’s chemistry during a season marked by injuries and uneven play.
Speaking before the Lakers faced the Orlando Magic on March 21, 2026, at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida, the second-year coach noted that several players have picked up the sport in the past 12 months. According to Redick, LeBron James, Bronny James, Luka Dončić, Dalton Knecht and Jaxson Hayes all began learning golf last year and now use the hobby to connect away from basketball.
“It’s hard to bond in L.A.,” Redick said, pointing out that players live in different parts of the city. “Finding a tee time gives us four hours together, away from the facility and the pressure. It’s been great for us.”
Redick, who started golfing during his playing career, added that golf had once been common among NBA veterans before falling out of favor. He said interest surged again after the 2020 Orlando bubble.
The coach credited the outings for boosting morale as the Lakers push toward the postseason. Los Angeles recently assembled a nine-game winning streak—the franchise’s longest since its 2019-20 championship run—before the streak ended earlier this week. Redick called the stretch “an impressive accomplishment” and said the team’s cohesion has been evident on both ends of the court.
Los Angeles continues its Eastern Conference road trip following the game in Orlando.
Source: Lakers Nation
