As the Los Angeles Lakers arrived at the Crypto.com Arena on March 6, the tension was palpable. Despite a seven-game winning streak, key absences left JJ Redick concerned ahead of the New York Knicks game. On consecutive days, Rui Huchimara had suffered a knee injury (tendinopathy), while Austin Reaves was out with a calf strain. Yes, Luka Doncic and LeBron James’ shoulders were still sturdy enough to carry the roster, but could Redick’s team do it? Well, as the game concluded, the narrative presented itself in a way that left the locker room brimming with confidence, and emotions.

The team survived an overtime thriller with a 113-109 victory. The James-Doncic duo carried the scoring load with 31 and 32 points, respectively, but the real story unfolded inside the locker room after the game. Redick, the Lakers’ head coach and rising voice of authority, gathered the squad and delivered a powerful postgame speech—one that sent a direct message to an unpopular yet crucial Lakers player. As the confessions started rolling in from NBA coaches about the team’s sudden identity shift, Redick’s words cemented the Lakers’ unexpected transformation.

The coach’s monologue wasn’t just about the Lakers’ gritty comeback—it was a defining moment for a player who rarely gets the spotlight. He didn’t praise LeBron. He didn’t point to Luka. Instead, Redick singled out an unexpected hero, proving that the Lakers’ success isn’t just about their superstars. “I don’t know if you remember what I said to you in the timeout. I said you’re going to make another big one. You made three more. That was big time. You won us the game. I’m dead serious. You won us the game,” he said as the locker room erupted in agreement with hoots and cheers…

Who was Redick talking to? Gabe Vincent.

The Lakers had started the night 3-for-8 from deep, struggling to find their rhythm. But Vincent’s second-half shot-making flipped the script, hitting four clutch threes that kept the Lakers alive. Redick made sure the entire room knew who delivered when it mattered most. However, in a heartwarming instance, Redick wasn’t the only one ready to give Vincent their flowers.

After the action concluded, James said in a post-game interview, “He was spectacular. His play, both on the defensive end and obviously the shooting that we needed when we’re not making any outside shots.” Doncic, on the other hand, was as direct as he could be: “[Gabe] Vincent won us the game.” 

Notably, Vincent’s erratic displays have been a cause for worry ever since he left the Miami Heat for a reported three-year, $33 million deal in July 2023. After being sidelined for all but 11 games in the season prior, owing to a left knee injury, the 28-year-old also failed to score at least 10 points in his first 19 appearances for the Lakers in 2024-25. He averaged just 2.8 points in 16.7 minutes per game.

While he had made a comeback with above 10 points in the next three of eight games, soon enough his production hit a standstill once again. However, with a much-needed—and must we say, iconic—return, looks like we might get to see some head-turning performances soon. After all, in his past 14 games, Vincent has been averaging 8.8 points, 2.5 assists, and 2.1 three-point field goals made in 22.7 minutes per game, shooting at a clip of .445/.365/.750.

Having said that, then came the second major acknowledgment from Redick—Jaxson Hayes. He turned to the 7-foot center and delivered another powerful message: “Jackson, thought you were awesome tonight on the defensive end in the second half. Awesome tonight.”

Hayes didn’t dominate the box score, but his defensive impact was undeniable. He helped shut down Karl-Anthony Towns in a previous game and now played a key role in neutralizing the Knicks’ interior attack. The team, as a whole, also seemed like a top-notch unit, as they forced their opponent to shoot 39.4% from the field, and 23.3% from beyond the arc. The Lakers also pulled off 12 offensive rebounds (up from their season average of 9.6 per game).

It was an effort that no one saw coming—but the Lakers’ coaching staff took notice.

NBA Coaches admit the Lakers’ unexpected change

Redick’s speech wasn’t just about hype—it was a recognition of what the Lakers have become. And it’s not just the Lakers who see it. Other NBA coaches are starting to take notice, too. During his post-game comments, the coach revealed a major confession from opposing coaches:

“Few coaches recently, whether it’s been postgame, pregame, after the game—whatever—have said, ‘Man, your team plays really hard.’”

It’s a stunning shift. Just weeks ago, the Lakers were a defensive liability, especially after losing Anthony Davis. But suddenly, they’ve become one of the most relentless teams in the league.

Where is this coming from?

Nobody expected Doncic to play elite defense. But with the team’s mentality shifting, even Luka is showing a new level of effort and commitment on that end. “I mean, the goal is championship always. There’s no other goal than that,” Luka said after the game.

His words set the tone, but more importantly, his actions on defense are backing it up. Championship teams don’t just rely on their biggest names—they thrive because of the role players who embrace their responsibilities. Redick pointed to Gabe Vincent and Jaxson Hayes as perfect examples. “I thought Jackson’s defense in the second half and Gabe’s shot-making was huge. I mean, Gabe doesn’t make those four threes, we’re not even in the game.Once we reached their level of effort and how hard they were playing, we were right there and we all felt that in the second half.”

Notably, the Redick’s team has allowed the fewest points in the NBA over the last 10 games, giving up just 106 per contest. And their defense is directly fueling their offense, ranking in the 93rd percentile in transition efficiency. They average 1.18 points per transition possession. But this win over the Knicks wasn’t a masterpiece—the Lakers still struggled offensively. But they won because of resilience, defensive grit, and unexpected contributions.

JJ Redick’s speech made one thing clear: the Lakers have real depth, real fight, and a championship mindset.

If their role players keep stepping up like this? The rest of the NBA is in serious trouble.