The Los Angeles Lakers survived an overtime thriller against the New York Knicks, extending their winning streak to eight games with a 113-109 victory. LeBron James and Luka Doncic carried the scoring load with 31 and 32 points, respectively, but the real story unfolded inside the locker room after the game.
JJ Redick, the Lakers’ assistant coach and rising voice of authority, gathered the squad and delivered a powerful postgame speech—one that sent a direct message to an unpopular yet crucial Lakers player. As the confessions started rolling in from NBA coaches about the team’s sudden identity shift, Redick’s words cemented the Lakers’ unexpected transformation.
Redick’s speech wasn’t just about the Lakers’ gritty comeback—it was a defining moment for a player who rarely gets the spotlight. He didn’t praise LeBron. He didn’t point to Luka. Instead, Redick singled out an unexpected hero, proving that the Lakers’ success isn’t just about their superstars.
“I don’t know if you remember what I said to you in the timeout. I said you’re going to make another big one. You made three more. That was big time, you won us the game. I’m dead serious, you won us the game.”
Who was Redick talking to? Gabe Vincent.
“Don’t let go of the rope.” Inside the locker room with JJ after the victory. pic.twitter.com/O1T7lGJ0QF
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) March 7, 2025
The Lakers started the night 3-for-8 from deep, struggling to find their rhythm. But Vincent’s second-half shot-making flipped the script, hitting four clutch threes that kept the Lakers alive. Redick made sure the entire room knew who delivered when it mattered most.
And then came the second major acknowledgment—Jaxson Hayes.
Redick turned to the 7-foot center and delivered another powerful message:
“Jackson, thought you were awesome tonight on the defensive end in the second half. Awesome tonight.”
Hayes didn’t dominate the box score, but his defensive impact was undeniable. He helped shut down Karl-Anthony Towns in a previous game and now played a key role in neutralizing the Knicks’ interior attack. It was an effort that no one saw coming—but the Lakers’ coaching staff took notice.
NBA Coaches Admit the Lakers’ Unexpected Change
Redick’s speech wasn’t just about hype—it was recognition of what the Lakers have become. And it’s not just the Lakers who see it. Other NBA coaches are starting to take notice.
During his post-game comments, Redick revealed a major confession from opposing coaches:
“Few coaches recently, whether it’s been postgame, pregame, after the game—whatever—have said, ‘Man, your team plays really hard.’”
It’s a stunning shift. Just weeks ago, the Lakers were a defensive liability, especially after losing Anthony Davis. But suddenly, they’ve become one of the most relentless teams in the league.
Where is this coming from?
Nobody expected Doncic to play elite defense. But with the team’s mentality shifting, even Luka is showing a new level of effort and commitment on that end. “I mean, the goal is championship always. There’s no other goal than that,” Luka said after the game.
His words set the tone, but more importantly, his actions on defense are backing it up.
Feb 27, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick during the third quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images
Championship teams don’t just rely on their biggest names—they thrive because of the role players who embrace their responsibilities.
Redick pointed to Gabe Vincent and Jaxson Hayes as perfect examples. “I thought Jackson’s defense in the second half and Gabe’s shot-making was huge. I mean, Gabe doesn’t make those four threes, we’re not even in the game.Once we reached their level of effort and how hard they were playing, we were right there and we all felt that in the second half.”
The Lakers’ bench is no longer just “filling minutes”—they’re actively changing games.
It’s not just about effort—it’s about execution. The Lakers have allowed the fewest points in the NBA over the last 10 games, giving up just 106 per contest.
And their defense is directly fueling their offense. The Lakers rank in the 93rd percentile in transition efficiency. They average 1.18 points per transition possession—a sign of elite fast-break execution.
The numbers prove it: this isn’t a random hot streak—it’s a legitimate identity shift.
This win over the Knicks wasn’t a masterpiece—the Lakers still struggled offensively. But they won because of resilience, defensive grit, and unexpected contributions.
JJ Redick’s speech made one thing clear: the Lakers aren’t just about their stars anymore. This team has real depth, real fight, and a championship mindset.
If their role players keep stepping up like this? The rest of the NBA is in serious trouble.
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