NBA: Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick says he and Luka Doncic have ‘great relationship’ after viral exchange

Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick said that he and his star player Luka Doncic have a “great relationship” despite the heated dispute between the duo that went viral.

The Lakers had suffered three straight losses before Saturday’s game against the Golden State Warriors, but were leading comfortably when Doncic was substituted late in the first quarter.

The 27-year-old Slovenian tried to avoid bumping Redick with a fist as he walked to his seat on the bench, then followed Lakers coach Doncic down the sideline.

The two players exchanged words while Doncic took his seat before Redick turned to walk back toward half the court.

As he did so, Doncic returned to his feet and said more toward Redick while teammate Jared Vanderbilt stood up, ostensibly to applaud the Lakers, but also to set up a barricade for Doncic, who sat down moments later.

Speaking before a 110-101 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday, Redick said: “I don’t know why it caught on. It just seemed very natural to me.

“I didn’t think much of it at the time, to be honest with you. I don’t think Luca did either.”

Doncic had four points and three assists by that point, and returned on Saturday to finish with 26 points.

The six-time All-Star scored a game-high 27 points as the Lakers notched their third straight win on Tuesday to remain in sixth place in the Western Conference standings.

“He and I have a great relationship,” Reddick added. “I really value our relationship. I think these things happen. Not every game, but they happen very frequently.”

“It’s a competition. And there are two guys here, in this case, trying to win a basketball game and be on the same page about things.”

Leaders of the Western Conference Oklahoma City Thunder It defeated the Chicago Bulls 116-108 on Tuesday and is in second place San Antonio Spurs Beat the Philadelphia 76ers 131-91.

Leading Eastern Conference Detroit Pistons The Cleveland Cavaliers suffered a 113-109 loss, with Jaylon Tyson scoring 22 points and newcomer James Harden adding 18 points, while the third-place team scored. New York Knicks The match ended with the Toronto Raptors winning 111-95.