JJ Redick responds candidly to the difficulty of integrating Luka Doncic into the Los Angeles Lakers’ offensive scheme: “

Luka Dončić has quickly established himself as one of the most dominant and electrifying players in the NBA. His combination of size, skill, vision, and basketball IQ makes him a rare talent capable of dominating games and changing the course of a season. But as we have seen with other superstar players, integrating a player of Dončić’s caliber into an existing team framework is no simple task. For the Los Angeles Lakers, a team with championship aspirations, the prospect of adding a player like Luka Dončić raises several questions—chief among them being: how does a team with established stars like LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and a host of complementary players mesh with a ball-dominant player like Dončić?

Former NBA sharpshooter and current ESPN analyst JJ Redick has become known for his candid analysis of the NBA landscape, and when it comes to integrating a player like Luka Dončić into the Lakers’ system, Redick does not mince words. In a recent appearance on The Old Man and the Three podcast, Redick gave a thoughtful and, at times, frank response to the challenges of building an offense around Luka in Los Angeles. His comments highlighted the tension between maximizing Dončić’s talents and maintaining a cohesive team structure, particularly when integrating him into a high-profile team like the Lakers.

Through his experience as a player in multiple systems and his keen understanding of team dynamics, Redick provided insights that give us a deeper understanding of why integrating Luka Dončić into the Lakers’ offense would be more complicated than simply plugging him into an already loaded roster. His analysis also suggests that the challenges in doing so may have long-term implications for the Lakers’ title hopes.

Luka Dončić’s Unique Skill Set

Before diving into the intricacies of Redick’s response, it’s essential to fully grasp the magnitude of Luka Dončić’s talent and how his skill set impacts any team he joins. At just 24 years old, Dončić is already regarded as one of the best players in the league. His elite court vision, scoring ability, and rebounding instincts have made him a triple-double threat on a nightly basis. Dončić’s basketball IQ is among the highest in the game, often operating as both the primary scorer and playmaker in Dallas’ offense. He can dominate with the ball in his hands, but he is also more than capable of being a facilitator for teammates, especially on pick-and-rolls or in fast-break situations.

However, Dončić’s greatness often stems from his ball dominance. He needs the basketball in his hands to thrive. His ability to break down defenses, create separation, and make pinpoint passes requires him to control the tempo of the game. This ball-centric playstyle creates both opportunities and challenges for any team, especially one that already has established offensive weapons.

This brings us to the Los Angeles Lakers, a franchise with a high degree of talent but a roster full of stars who need to be fed the basketball as well. Integrating Luka into a system designed for multiple primary ball handlers—particularly LeBron James—requires a delicate balancing act. For the Lakers to function optimally with Dončić, the offensive system needs to be reimagined in a way that allows both superstars to coexist and thrive.

JJ Redick’s Candid Take on the Challenge

Redick, who spent a long career as a perimeter shooter and a secondary offensive option, knows better than most the delicate balance that must be struck when integrating a player like Dončić into an established system. During his podcast appearance, Redick emphasized the difficulty of fitting Luka into a system where ball-sharing and off-the-ball movement are crucial for offensive flow. While acknowledging Dončić’s immense talent, Redick pointed out that Luka’s style of play—which typically demands a heavy usage rate and a slow, deliberate pace—might not mesh as seamlessly with the Lakers’ existing offensive scheme.

“The issue with Luka is that he requires the ball, and that’s the way he operates. When you add a player like that, you have to completely reorient your offense around him,” Redick said. “The Lakers already have LeBron, and we all know how he operates with the ball. The trick is balancing that, making sure LeBron and Luka can both handle the ball, and also figuring out how to get Anthony Davis involved. It’s a puzzle.”

The LeBron-Davis-Doncic Dynamic

For the Lakers, the addition of Luka Dončić into a lineup with LeBron James and Anthony Davis presents an intriguing but complicated dynamic. LeBron is one of the most gifted playmakers in NBA history, capable of running an offense, setting up teammates, and finding scoring opportunities for himself. However, at this stage of his career, LeBron’s effectiveness is maximized when he is surrounded by shooting and when he can delegate offensive responsibility.

Adding Dončić to the mix would force the Lakers to reconsider how they operate offensively. Dončić is at his best when he has the ball in his hands, directing traffic, orchestrating plays, and creating mismatches. But LeBron, despite his ability to be a playmaker, still prefers to have the freedom to operate as the primary initiator of offense in key moments. The key question is: how do you ensure that both of these ball-dominant players can coexist without impeding one another?

One solution could be using Luka in more off-ball scenarios, but Redick made it clear that this might not be the best use of Dončić’s talents. “Luka is an elite creator, and when you take that ball out of his hands, you’re not using him to his full potential,” Redick explained. “He’s like a chessboard where you need to move the pieces around him to let him operate. Trying to make him a catch-and-shoot guy like a traditional wing or guard just isn’t his game.”

For the Lakers, this presents a difficult decision: Do they lean into Luka’s ball-dominant style, potentially relegating LeBron to more off-ball responsibilities, or do they try to figure out a hybrid system where both can share the playmaking duties without stepping on each other’s toes?

Anthony Davis and the Role of the Big Man

Another significant factor in integrating Luka Dončić into the Lakers’ offense is the role of Anthony Davis. As one of the most talented and versatile big men in the league, Davis thrives in a system that allows him to be both a primary scorer and a defender. However, integrating Dončić’s ball-dominant playstyle into the mix could take away some of the opportunities Davis has to operate in the low post or in pick-and-roll situations.

“Luka’s game requires spacing, but Anthony Davis is at his best when he has room to operate in the paint, whether it’s on rolls or posting up,” Redick said. “So, for a team like the Lakers, you need to figure out a way to space the floor for Davis, make sure he gets the touches he needs, and also not crowd the paint too much when Luka is out there running the offense.”

The Lakers could look to run a more modern, spaced-out offense where Dončić runs pick-and-rolls with Davis while LeBron and other shooters—such as Malik Beasley or Austin Reaves—stretch the floor. However, this type of system requires extensive buy-in from all players, particularly from Davis, who has been known to occasionally shy away from the physicality of the post in favor of more face-up plays.

Redick’s candid take underscores how tricky this balance is. The Lakers’ coaching staff would need to optimize spacing, make sure Davis gets enough touches, and find ways for Luka to initiate offense without crowding the paint.

A Shift Toward Modern NBA Principles

Despite the challenges, Redick is optimistic about the possibility of integrating Luka into the Lakers’ system. He pointed out that the modern NBA emphasizes pace, ball movement, and versatility, and this could play to Dončić’s strengths. However, this would require a paradigm shift in how the Lakers operate.

“You can’t just take Luka and plug him into a LeBron-led offense,” Redick said. “This is a new era of basketball where speed and movement are king. So, the Lakers would need to really embrace the modern principles of spacing and movement—things that work when you have two elite ball handlers, but also knowing when to let go of the ball and trust your teammates.”

The key to integrating Luka seamlessly would be to balance pace with deliberate offense. The Lakers would need to adapt their offense around Dončić’s skills, but it could also result in a more flexible, unpredictable approach that maximizes the talents of both Luka and LeBron. With Anthony Davis as the anchor and a supporting cast of versatile players, this could give the Lakers the kind of dynamic offense that would make them a championship contender once again.

 The Road Ahead

As JJ Redick so candidly pointed out, integrating a player like Luka Dončić into the Los Angeles Lakers’ offensive system is far from simple. The complexities of balancing ball dominance, creating a proper role for Anthony Davis, and ensuring LeBron can still operate at his highest level all add layers of difficulty. However, with the right adjustments, buy-in from all parties, and an offensive system that embraces modern NBA principles, the Lakers could turn this challenge into a major advantage.

The road ahead for the Lakers, with Luka Dončić in the fold, will require innovation, patience, and a commitment to evolving the offense. If they can figure out the right balance, the Lakers may just find themselves back on top of the NBA, with Dončić and LeBron sharing the stage as two of the most dominant forces in the game. But as Redick emphasized, it won’t be without its challenges—challenges that may require a new

way of thinking about what it takes to build a championship team in today’s NBA.