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Doncic, Lakers embrace Redick’s directive to be in top shape

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    Dave McMenaminOct 2, 2025, 06:06 PM ET

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    • Lakers and NBA reporter for ESPN.
    • Covered the Lakers and NBA for ESPNLosAngeles.com from 2009-14, the Cavaliers from 2014-18 for ESPN.com and the NBA for NBA.com from 2005-09.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — After making his team run a series of full-court sprints to finish its third day of training camp Thursday, Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick admitted what helped his players’ conditioning might have hurt his popularity in the locker room.

“I don’t know if they like me right now,” Redick said.

The second-year coach ended his inaugural season on the sideline in L.A. by issuing a directive to his team to get into “championship shape” this offseason, and the training camp drills are only reinforcing the mandate.

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Though Redick said the message wasn’t aimed at any individual, it clearly was received by 26-year-old superstar Luka Doncic, who transformed his body over the summer with intense workouts and dietary discipline.

“It’s not just physical shape, it’s mental shape, too,” Doncic said of Redick’s approach for his team. “Both are very important. We’re doing it in practice. It was great. Everybody’s in great shape. Everybody’s running a lot, so it’s been great so far.”

L.A. ended its last practice before its six-game preseason slate tips off Friday in Palm Desert, California, against the Phoenix Suns with a gamut of lung-pumping runs. Players had to run six court lengths in 34 seconds, followed by a short break; then 10 court lengths in 60 seconds, followed by a short break; and finally, six more court lengths in 34 seconds.

Redick joined the team for the final push.

“I just ran the last six,” said Redick, still flush in the face from the workout, “and I’m good [not running anymore for the day].”

After the Lakers’ 50-win season that secured them the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference playoffs was cut short with a first-round exit against the Minnesota Timberwolves in just five games, the increased dedication was a way for L.A. to improve internally beyond player personnel changes.

“I think there’s three ways I kind of view ‘Are we in shape?'” Redick said. “The first would be, ‘Are we sprinting back defensively?’ ‘Are we playing with pace offensively?’ And I would include our ability to crash and then get back on defense in that. And then, ‘Are we being physical?’

“So, if those things are being done at a really high level, we’re in shape.”

Lakers guard Gabe Vincent said Redick’s demands are welcomed, even if players’ tired legs might result in temporary animosity toward their coach.

“I told JJ about a week or two ago, I said, ‘If we all hate you, but we all hate you collectively, that’s great,'” Vincent said. “So as long as we’re together in it. Obviously no one wants to run at the end of a long practice, but we know the goal we have set for ourselves and we know what we’re trying to do moving forward. And we all embraced it.

“We all got the run in and we all got better for it.”

That is, all the players who were cleared for practice did.

LeBron James (nerve irritation in his glute), Marcus Smart (left Achilles tendinopathy) and rookie Adou Thiero (left knee swelling) were held out Thursday and will not play against the Suns.

Lakers big man Maxi Kleber is also out “for a few days,” according to Redick, after having a quad injury that occurred the first day of camp evaluated by the medical staff.

Redick said he would have his players play “short bursts” against the Suns and avoid rotations that would keep them on the court for eight to 10 straight minutes. He also said he would be “sensitive” to Doncic’s and Austin Reaves’ workloads, in particular, after Doncic played in EuroBasket over the summer and Reaves has been pushing himself during camp.

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Basketball

Lakers’ Luka Doncic easing into training camp after hectic offseason

The plan, Luka Doncic said Thursday after the the Lakers†third day of training camp, is to go “a little bit slower†during these sessions so he doesnâ€t totally tax his body after a summer of playing hoops with his countryâ€s national team.

About a month ago, Doncic and Slovenia were eliminated from the 2025 EuroBasket in the quarterfinals by Germany, his 39 points not enough to salvage a win.

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Doncic, who slimmed down this offseason, had been playing at a peak level then, but now he and the Lakers want to ease him back into things with the hopes of avoiding injuries.

“Yeah, obviously probably take it a little bit slower than the usual,†said Doncic, who will play in the Lakers†first preseason game Friday night against the Phoenix Suns in Palm Desert. “I had a busy summer. I think month, month and a half I was with national team. So, it was kind of a lot. But that got me ready for the preseason and obviously regular season. So, for me, I think it really helps.â€

This camp for the Lakers and Doncic is all about being in tip-top shape, something coach JJ Redick stressed after they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

It has meant more drills, more running, more exertion.

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“Yeah, we just talked about today,†Doncic said. “It’s not just physical shape. It’s mental shape too. So, that kind of goes both ways. Both are very important. We’re doing practice. It was great. Everybody’s in great shape. Everybody’s running a lot so it’s been great so far.â€

Over the first three days of camp, the Lakers have seen Doncic dominate.

They have seen his creativity, his ability to find teammates from all places on the court.

“Yeah. I think I’m just reminded of his own greatness,†Gabe Vincent said. “He sees the floor so well. He could score from anywhere on the floor. He is always a threat. But he does such a good job of commanding defenses. He gets all 10 eyes on him and he sees the floor and he makes a good read nine times out of 10.â€

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Still, there are moments when the Lakers are learning how to play alongside Doncic. They are learning his style, which can only help them during the regular season

“Yeah, I think a bit,†Vincent said. “But like I don’t really see Luka as a premeditated individual, you know what I mean? He’s very much so reading and reactive, so you have to read and react with him. So I see it that way. He’s high IQ. LeBron [James is] pretty similar in that route as well. So, it’s definitely still learning him, learning what he likes and doesn’t like. And just playing at his level.â€

Getting in shape

Since the end of last season, the mantra from Redick was for his team to be in championship shape.

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To that end, at the close of the Lakers†third day of training camp, Redick pushed his players in which they had to run for six minutes, 10 minutes and six minutes.

“I don’t know if they like me right now for what we just finished practice with,†Redick joked.

Apparently, Vincent said, it wasnâ€t an issue for him and his teammates.

“I told JJ about a week or two ago, I said, ‘If we all hate you, but we all hate you collectively, that’s great,††Vincent said. “So, as long as we’re together in it. … Obviously no one wants to run at the end of a long practice. But we know the goal we have set for ourselves and we know what we’re trying to do moving forward and we all embraced it, we all got the run in and we all got better for it.â€

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Injury update

Redick said James, Maxi Kleber (quad), Marcus Smart (achilles tendinopathy) and Aduo Thiero (knee) will not play against the Suns.

Redick said Kleber had an MRI exam and that “heâ€ll be out a few days.â€

“Itâ€s a very minor thing with his quad,†Redick said. “But weâ€re going to be cautious with him, just like we will all our guys right now.â€

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Luka Doncic Explains How He Plans to Change in 1st Full Season with Lakers Since Trade

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As he enters his first full year with the Los Angeles Lakers, star guard Luka DonÄić acknowledged that he needs to use his voice more.

DonÄić, who was traded from the Dallas Mavericks in February, told Dan Woike of The Athletic that he feels he has to be more vocal this season if he hopes to help the Lakers compete for a championship.

“I mean, it was probably just something I need to do — especially since I’ve seen a lot of basketball now,” DonÄić said. “So I’ve been through a lot — so it was kind of something like, I need to do this to help, to help others.”

The 26-year-old added that he has to accept all aspects of being a leader, including calling out anything that is negatively affecting the team.

“(Being a leader), sometimes it’s comfortable, sometimes not,” he said. “Sometimes it’s great to be a leader and sometimes you have to say things that you don’t want to, but that’s part of being a leader.”

DonÄić was often questioned for his maturity due to his tendency to let his emotions boil over. He led the league with 19 technical fouls in 2023-24, and last season was only slightly better with 14 technicals.

The Lakers have long looked to star forward LeBron James to be their leader, but the 40-year-old is at the tail-end of his iconic career. The reins will eventually be passed to DonÄić, so it’s imperative that he starts embracing a leadership role sooner rather than later, and it sounds like he’s already on the right path.

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