Furious JJ Redick Storms Out After Lakers’ Embarrassing No-Show in Blowout Loss to Shorthanded Hawks
The Los Angeles Lakers endured their worst defeat of the season on Saturday night, and head coach JJ Redick made no effort to hide his frustration afterward. Facing the Atlanta Hawks on the road at State Farm Arena, the Lakers looked lifeless from start to finish, falling 122-102 in a game they never truly competed in. Los Angeles briefly led in the opening minutes but quickly lost control, trailing by as many as 30 points in a performance marked by poor energy and lackluster effort.
Redick’s postgame press conference reflected his irritation. The normally composed second-year head coach kept his comments short, answering questions in curt, one-sentence responses before abruptly walking out less than 90 seconds into the session. The terse exchange left little doubt about his feelings regarding the team’s uninspired showing.
While the Lakers were missing key players in LeBron James and Austin Reaves, Redick wasn’t in the mood for excuses—especially given that Atlanta was shorthanded as well. The Hawks were without several of their core contributors, including Trae Young, Kristaps Porzingis, Jalen Johnson, Luke Kennard, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. To make matters worse for Los Angeles, the Hawks were playing on the second night of a back-to-back, while the Lakers were coming off two full days of rest following their Wednesday matchup with the San Antonio Spurs.
Despite the disappointing loss, the Lakers still sit in a solid position at 7-3, holding second place in the Western Conference and boasting several impressive wins early in the season. However, Redick’s reaction made it clear that he expects a higher level of consistency and intensity from his group. Saturday’s defeat served as a harsh reminder that effort—and not just talent—will determine how far this Lakers team can go.
