Lakers Coach JJ Redick Praises LeBron James’ “Insane” Performance in Early-Season Dominance
LeBron James delivers an impressive performance in a Lakers win, leaving head coach JJ Redick in awe. Read about how James and Anthony Davis turned up the heat to seal victory against the Sacramento Kings.
LeBron James continues to defy expectations, even at 39. Following a stellar performance in the Lakers’ third game of the season, Lakers head coach JJ Redick called his efforts “insane.” With this early success, the Lakers are off to their first two-game winning streak since 2010, making James’ pivotal role and Davis’s leadership even more vital.
Following the game, LeBron noted the importance of leaning on Davis. “It’s very important that he’s the main focal point for us every single night,” James said. “We know what he’s going to do defensively, but offensively we have to find him in multiple places on the floor throughout the whole game.”
LeBron’s “Insane” Fourth Quarter Performance
The Sacramento Kings were determined to disrupt the Lakers’ rhythm, but James had other plans. Early in the fourth quarter, LeBron turned the tide with a near-perfect four-minute stretch, scoring 14 points and assisting on another two, contributing to a 21-0 run that ultimately led to a 131-127 victory. His performance garnered praise from Coach Redick: “We’ve all been very fortunate to watch his greatness, and the fact that he’s able to keep doing it, it’s actually insane.”
James finished with an impressive 32 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists, while Davis, delivering his own early-season dominance, closed out the game with 31 points, including a game-sealing three-pointer. Davis lauded James, saying, “Just when you think he’s slowing down, man, he continues to show the world why he’s the greatest.”
The Lakers’ Strong Team Performance
This victory saw all five Lakers starters scoring in double figures. Davis and James combined for a perfect fourth-quarter shooting performance, scoring 30 points together to bring the team to their first win against the Kings since January 2023. Key contributions came from Rui Hachimura (18 points and nine rebounds), Austin Reaves (16 points, seven rebounds, and six assists), and D’Angelo Russell (16 points and five assists).
While the Lakers struggled with turnovers (19 leading to 25 points for Sacramento), they gained the advantage in rebounds and made the most of their shot opportunities. Coach Redick emphasized the surreal nature of coaching a player like LeBron: “When you operate out of gratitude, you sometimes have a feeling of surrealness. And tonight was a surreal moment to watch him and coach him.”
Looking Ahead
The Lakers are headed on a five-game road trip, starting Monday in Phoenix and traveling through Cleveland, Toronto, Detroit, and Memphis before returning to Los Angeles. With James continuing to showcase incredible versatility and Davis leading the charge, the Lakers look set to be strong contenders in the Western Conference.
