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Lakers Coach Seeks Nine "All In" Players
8 Apr
Summary
- Coach Redick publicly demanded "all in" commitment from nine players.
- Jared Vanderbilt was benched and restrained after a sideline argument.
- The Lakers have now lost three consecutive games.
Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick has publicly stated his search for nine players willing to be "all in" following the team's third consecutive loss. The latest defeat, a 123-87 rout by the Oklahoma City Thunder, saw an undermanned Lakers squad struggle significantly.
During the game, an altercation occurred between Coach Redick and veteran forward Jared Vanderbilt. Redick removed Vanderbilt from the game less than a minute into the second quarter, leading to a confrontation on the court and on the bench, where Vanderbilt reportedly needed to be restrained by Austin Reaves. Vanderbilt logged fewer than five minutes of play.
Adding to the Lakers' challenges, key players LeBron James, Luka Dončić, and Austin Reaves were unavailable. Jaxson Hayes was also ruled out with foot soreness, and Marcus Smart continued to recover from an ankle injury. Coach Redick indicated Smart was nearing a return.
Redick also benched Rui Hachimura early in the first quarter for not fulfilling his role, though Hachimura later returned to lead the team with 15 points. Despite the team's recent struggles, Redick emphasized the need for a collective commitment to fighting for wins as they approach the postseason.
