JJ Redick Admits He “Bulked Out” LA’s DNA Answer After Shaking Pistons’ Hand

Head coach JJ Redick admits that in 2025-26 Los Angeles Lakers still trying to find their identity after the 129-106 loss Detroit Pistons. Redick spent time berating the Pistons for fouling on almost every defensive possession, as the Lakers coach stated during his postgame media availability.

As for the Lakers’ identity, Redick says it is still a work in progressdespite having 31 games in the regular season.

I’m still trying to figure it out. And I know it might be a cop. Probably, but I know we’ve had a lot of stops and starts, and we’ve tried to make our team not just the staff, you know, the players, the staff, everybody,” Redick said. “We’ve really tried to play the right way every night and have the right intent, lineup flow and rotations, and all of that has been a challenge for everybody, not just the coalition; it’s just a challenge for the players, and building an identity is hard.”

Redick admits there is a contrast between last year’s Lakers team and this year’s group.

“I think it’s from our team last year and this team is different and our identity will end up being different, but we didn’t get that identity until the end of January, we felt, and then we had to change again so I don’t think it’s unnatural,” Redick added. “I remember a meeting I had with Phil Jackson last year pretty early in the season and he said I always felt like I knew who my team was by Thanksgiving. I think that’s hard to figure out now with this team.”

The Lakers have lost four of their last five games, including losses to the Houston Rockets (119-96), the Phoenix Suns (132-108) and the Pistons.

JJ Redick complains about Pistons “fouling” in Lakers loss

Lakers coach JJ Redick didn’t hold back in criticizing the Pistons’ defense for getting away with constant fouls during Tuesday’s 23-point loss. Doc Luka Doncic pointed to limiting the Lakers’ mistakes and LeBron James talked about matching up with the Pistons, Redick says their opponent kept crossing the line and drawing fouls.

“I think there’s probably a level of frustration when you’re turning the ball over and you feel like you’ve been fouled,” Redick said. “There’s certainly frustration. But I mean, again, I said it even here, we said it this morning: they’re going to foul every possession. You just have to play it.”

The Pistons outscored the Lakers by 20.

“He’s going to foul every possession, probably three or four times,” Redick added. “And it’s not a knock, I’m not saying that in a negative way, but they’re going to foul three or four times every possession. (And the refs) aren’t going to call a foul every possession.”

The Lakers fell to 20-11, the fifth-best record in the Western Conference.