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The Los Angeles Lakers went crashing out of the NBA playoffs in the first round at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and now it appears that they may have even bigger problems on their hands. First-year head coach JJ Redick came under fire for his bizarre substitution patterns, or lack thereof, against Minnesota. But when it came time to assess the damage, Redick pointed the finger elsewhere. Namely, he seemed to call out superstar Luka Doncic and validate Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison.
“I’ll start with the offseason and the work that’s required in an offseason to be in championship shape,” Redick said on Thursday when discussing how his team moves forward. “And we have a ways to go as a roster. And certainly, there are individuals that were in phenomenal shape. There’s certainly other ones that could have been in better shape. That’s where my mind goes immediately is we have to get in championship shape.”
JJ Redick’s Thiny Veiled Shot At Luka Doncic Echoes Those Made By Dallas Mavericks
Redick stopped short of dropping names. But to all those who were listening, it was a pretty clear dog whistle for those who believe that Doncic is not in the shape he needs to be to win an NBA championship. One of those people is Harrison, who reportedly had concerns over Doncic’s weight as well as his lifestyle habits, which contribute to his poor shape.
“The people who witnessed Dončić’s last days in Dallas do not paint a flattering portrait of the 25-year-old’s professionalism. They call him lazy. They talk about the weight issues that were such a frequent frustration within their walls,” Sam Amick of The Athletic reported in February shortly after Doncic was traded to LA.
Harrison didn’t acquire much in the way of future value for Doncic. And the Mavs don’t look like a real contender now, even if Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving are healthy. But Redick’s comments do lend a ton of creedence to Harrison’s belief that Doncic doesn’t have the work ethic to get a team over the hump.