The Los Angeles Lakers have started the 2025-26 NBA season with a strong record of 15-4, placing them second in the Western Conference. Head coach JJ Redick acknowledged the team’s successful start but emphasized areas that require improvement.
Redick noted that while the Lakers currently hold the fifth-best offense in the league, their defense ranks 17th. Their net rating stands at 4.1, which places them 12th overall, similar to teams like the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers. The Lakers also rank low in turnover rate and assist-to-turnover ratio.
Following a decisive win over an injury-depleted New Orleans Pelicans team, Redick commented on both the positives and challenges ahead for his squad. “We challenged the guys before the game,” Redick said. “We got out to a 7-2 start. We’ve been 7-2 in our last nine games. The last time we were in a 7-2 stretch, we played Atlanta. The day, right before the game, a bunch of guys are out. So, it’s similar, Zion [Williamson] is out, Trey [Murphy III] is out and Herb [Jones] is out. [Jordan] Poole’s been out. So, we wanted to get off to a good start. We wanted to play with the right intent; I thought we did that.
“Then the game got a little wonky with their junk defenses and the firing and all that stuff. Truthfully, I think sometimes you get a lead like that and I hate saying this, but teams can get a little bored. That’s what we’re trying to get away from; is just continuing to be a process team and didn’t think we were great with that tonight. I didn’t think our defense was good for the last three quarters. It’s nice to sit here and be 15-4 and be like, ‘Oh, the results are great.’ And we should be proud of being 15-4 after 19 games. It’s a great start. There’s a lot of slices of pizza left in the box that we can still get after. There’s a lot of room for improvement for our team, which to me is a positive.”
Looking ahead, Redick pointed out that upcoming games will pose tougher tests as they face five consecutive opponents with winning records: Phoenix Suns, Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers and San Antonio Spurs.
“Absolutely. The entire season is a challenge and throughout the season, there’s stretches that are more challenging than others,” Redick said. “I don’t think anybody on our team necessarily [looks], and this is not a knock on New Orleans by the way, but the reality is the Clippers, the Mavs and the Lakers and the history of all that stuff and who those teams have been over the last several seasons. I don’t think the Clippers and Mavs, I don’t think our guys are looking at their records and saying, ‘Oh, this is a bad team.’ New Orleans has had a ton of injuries and a coaching change, so that’s a different situation.
“We’ve got an incredible challenge tomorrow with Phoenix. Those guys have played great basketball and they’re coming off a couple losses to two of the best teams in the NBA. They play hard. They have an identity. That’s gonna be a huge challenge on the second night of the back-to-back. Then, in terms of an East Coast trip…I’ve been a part of the NBA [for] 19 years, I don’t ever remember a California-based team going to the far east of the Eastern Conference for three games to play three in four nights…So it’s gonna be a tough stretch and we’re gonna have to manage a lot of different stuff coming up.”
Redick also discussed how maintaining focus can differ depending on whether teams are winning or losing: “We’ve tried to make a concentrated effort to try to get better even when we’re winning…one of things I said [to Luka] was ‘You have no idea the level of paranoia that I live with as coach…’
“So I like our team…The guys have bought in…and they root for each other…There’s a lot of things that I really like about our basketball team…It’s okay 19 games in to say ‘Hey we’re not where we want to be.’ That doesn’t take away from anything we’ve done or anything any individuals have done so far this season…Our defense has to get better.”
The Lakers’ recent performances include notable achievements by players Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves; both scored over 30 points in three straight games—making them only one of four backcourt duos in fifty years to do so.
