JJ Redick is demanding Lakers get in ‘championship shape’ this offseason

JJ Redick is demanding Lakers get in ‘championship shape’ this offseason

The Los Angeles Lakers are less than 48 hours removed from getting ousted by Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games in the first-round of the 2024-25 NBA playoffs.

Time after time, the Lakers fell apart late in games and were not able to hold their own against a bigger, more physical Timberwolves frontcourt. As a result, head coach JJ Redick is demanding the team gets in shape this offseason.

“I’ll start with the offseason and the work that’s required in an offseason to be in championship shape,” Redick said Thursday in his end-of-season press conference. “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.”

In no way, shape or form is this somewhat of a shot at Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic, who injured his back in Game 5 but was routinely getting attacked on the defensive end (it is a shot at him).

Doncic’s conditioning has been a talking point over time, but the Lakers, collectively, looked gassed by the end of the series. It doesn’t help that Redick played all of his starters–including LeBron James (who’s 40) all 24 second-half minutes of Game 4–but that’s neither here nor there.

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However, the Lakers have either barely made the postseason or made the playoffs with a quick flameout since winning the title in 2019-20. They have been eliminated in the first round in three of their last four seasons. At some point, even with James entering his 23rd NBA season (isn’t that crazy?!), the Lakers, a premier organization, need to hold themselves to a higher standard.

Acquiring Doncic was a shift in that direction. But getting in shape, adding playable bigs and more two-way talent around Doncic and James will be a focal point in what could be a busy offseason for Los Angeles. It’s good that Redick, who had a great first season (despite a bad postseason), is attempting to hold his team (and Doncic) to that standard.

The question is: Will it be met? Only time will tell.

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