JJ Redick Provides Update on Austin Reaves, Luka Doncic Injuries
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick spoke about his injured stars, Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic, both of whom are out for the rest of the regular season. Redick has done a great job overall with the Lakers, posting consecutive winning seasons and playoff pushes, while also allowing role players to flourish like never before. However, he has been dealt a rough hand, with injuries to Reaves, Doncic, and LeBron James, the team’s two best players.
James himself is missing time on the sidelines, but he is not in the same fire position that Reaves and Doncic are in. Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick watches game action against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half at Crypto. com Arena.
Mandatory Doncic has a left hamstring injury, while Austin Reaves is out with an oblique injury. According to the Lakers’ head coach, Doncic is in “relatively good spirits” amid his recovery in Spain. Reaves has also been the recipient of check-ins, though on a more regular basis, since he is with the team amid the recovery.
The Lakers have the bad luck of being in the Western Conference, which is full of powerhouses like the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, and Houston Rockets, among other contenders who will give Los Angeles fits. With Doncic and Reaves out for an entire playoff series, there is no chance the Lakers can advance, but the return of one of them could unlock an avenue to a series win and help them get healthier down the line. However, the timelines of Doncic and Reaves’ recoveries put them firmly out of the first round of postseason play.