Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick did not hold back after his team suffered a blowout loss to the Houston Rockets on Christmas Day, delivering a sharp critique of his players’ effort and professionalism. Following the 119-96 defeat at home, Redick expressed frustration, saying, “We don’t care enough right now. And that’s the part that bothers you a lot.”

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Redick Questions Lakers’ Professionalism

Redick openly described the team’s performance as unacceptable, emphasizing that their lack of effort was a choice rather than a result of practice time or strategy.

“We don’t care enough to do the things that are necessary. We don’t care enough to be professional,” Redick told reporters.

He went on to explain that the Lakers’ inconsistency had been noticeable despite a promising 15-4 start to the season.

“The two words of the day were effort and execution. And I feel like when we’ve done both of those things at a high level, we’ve been a good basketball team. When we haven’t, we’ve been a terrible basketball team. And tonight we were a terrible basketball team.”

Redick also highlighted that some players simply “don’t want to make that choice” to perform at a high level consistently, sending a clear message about accountability to the team.

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Luka Dončić Supports Coach’s Critique

Star player Luka Dončić echoed his coach’s sentiments, acknowledging the team needs to address the issues.

“We’ve just got to talk about it,” Dončić said. “I know JJ said it’s going to be uncomfortable, as it should be.”

The Lakers never led during the game and trailed by double digits throughout the second half, highlighting the gap between expectations and performance.

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Preparing for an Uncomfortable Practice

Redick warned that the Lakers should expect a difficult practice session ahead as a result of their Christmas Day performance.

“It’s going to be uncomfortable. The meeting is going to be uncomfortable. I’m not doing another 53 games like this,” Redick said.

This strong stance indicates that the Lakers’ coaching staff is prioritizing accountability and professional standards as they move forward in the 2025–2026 NBA season.

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Context: Lakers’ Season and Expectations

Despite a strong start, the Lakers’ inconsistency has become a point of concern for fans and analysts. With LeBron James, Luka Dončić, and a talented supporting cast, expectations remain high for the team to perform at an elite level. Redick’s comments serve as a reminder that talent alone is not enough without effort and execution on the court.