Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick said on Mar. 22 that watching his team’s progress during the 2025-26 season has been rewarding, as the Lakers secured their ninth consecutive win with a victory over the Orlando Magic.
The recent winning streak has strengthened the Lakers’ position as the third seed in the Western Conference. This improvement comes after a period earlier in the season when Redick struggled to get consistent energy and effort from his players. Since returning from the All-Star break, however, Los Angeles has shown renewed urgency and chemistry on the court.
“Every stage of the season is exhausting, for different reasons,” Redick said on Spectrum SportsNet. “This week has obviously been a lot in terms of the intensity, preparation, travel. We’ve got two more games on this trip and then get to go home for a little bit. We’ve got our first two-day break in between games, not counting All-Star break, since Dec. 27. An opportunity to practice, which is exciting. It’s all felt I think rewarding to see growth for the group, but it’s on to the next thing. There’s a lot we can get better at from tonight. There’s a lot we can get better at from Miami. I do think growth-wise, I thought our defense in the second half was on par with where we need it to be. But it all kind of blends together and you’ve got to enjoy the good moments.”
Redick also acknowledged that there is still work ahead for Los Angeles if they want to secure their postseason standing and avoid participating in the Play-In Tournament. He emphasized that while he is pleased with how his team is playing now, maintaining this level will be important moving forward.
A key factor in this turnaround has been LeBron James’ willingness to take on a new role as the team’s third option behind Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves—a move Redick commended as an example of sacrifice for team success.
As Los Angeles continues its road trip before returning home for a rare two-day break between games, observers will watch whether they can sustain their momentum into the playoffs.