JJ Redick is 100% real on fan ‘heaviness’

After that Los Angeles Lakers won their first game of the 2025-26 regular season — 128-110 — against the Minnesota Timberwolves, head coach JJ Redick referred to the “heaviness” among the fans. After three consecutive exits from the first round of the playoffs, Lakers fans watched as Luka Doncic surpassed Jerry West’s record of 81 points for the most points combined through the first two games of the regular season, as Doncic’s 49-point performance stole the show in Friday’s win.

After the game, Redick addressed the Lakers fan base, expressing his gratitude for their passion, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

“I have a lot of respect for fan bases that care. I’ve been warned by the NBA before that I can’t use profanity here, but I love fan bases that give ****. They care. And that’s why I appreciate it. I got the opportunity to play in Philly. It’s an honor to coach this team and be a part of this organization and try to lead this group and have a good fan base. There’s an overreaction to everything.

“I’ve been in the NBA long enough to know it exists with fans who care as much as the Lakers. But that hasn’t changed or affected, I don’t think it affects me or the group at all in terms of our preparation for this game. And we’ve got a really tough stretch next week with these four games. So we’ve got to keep building, Red.

Luka Doncic surpassed Jerry West’s all-time Lakers record

The Lakers guard Luka Dončić was looking forward to meeting the Timberwolveswho sent the Lakers home in the first round of last year’s playoffs. With head coach JJ Redick, Doncic and the Lakers looking to make a deep run in the competitive Western Conference, they did not disappoint against All-Star Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves, who made their second straight appearance in the Western Conference Finals last season.

Doncic got off to a great start, scoring a total of 92 points in the first two outings of the season. Doncic followed up a 43-point performance in a 119-109 opener loss to the Warriors with a masterful performance. He went 14-of-23 from the floor, including 5-of-12 from deep, as Luka shot 62.0% while averaging 46.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, 8.5 assists and 1.0 steals in his first two regular season games.