Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick is cooking. With the playoffs around the corner and all eyes on whether LeBron James and Luka Doncic can dominate together, Redick isn’t just rolling out practice drills—he’s rebooting the entire mindset of this Lakers squad. While the spotlight is (rightfully) shining on LeBron’s health and Maxi Kleber’s progress, the real headline might be something deeper: Redick is working on the Lakers’ soul.

And he just confirmed it. “No live action. Today was potentially not a mental day. We’ll get into the mental and prep side tomorrow,” Redick said when asked about practice. “Today was just about getting back up in the gym, some conditioning, a lot of shooting.”

That might sound like your average off-day update, but let’s decode that. Redick is intentionally pacing this team—pressing reset, sharpening the mental blades, and turning the intensity dial slowly before cranking it to full blast against the Minnesota Timberwolves. That, folks, is a coach playing chess while others play HORSE.

If you’ve been watching the 2024-25 Lakers, you know they’ve gone through waves. From LeBron’s mid-season groin injury to the wild Doncic trade, to watching Redick evolve from podcasting to playoff planning—it’s been a Hollywood script in real time. And now, Coach JJ is writing the third act.

The Lakers didn’t just win 50 games—they survived a chaotic season, built chemistry, and turned adversity into armor. And now, Redick wants that energy focused, refined, and battle-tested for what’s to come.

His leadership style isn’t about yelling in the locker room—it’s about recalibrating. Turning the vibes around. Making sure everyone—from the rookies to the King—is mentally aligned for a post-season grind that’ll test every muscle, every instinct, and every heartbeat. That’s why this “non-live” practice was so crucial. This wasn’t rest—it was the calm before the storm.

LeBron James Is “Fine,” But Redick’s Handling Him Like Gold

Let’s talk LeBron. The groin injury he suffered against the Rockets on April 9 had fans holding their breath. After all, this man is 22 seasons deep and still the engine that powers LA’s playoff train. But Redick was quick to squash the panic. “LeBron was a full participant in shooting and conditioning,” he said, adding that the injury was minor and James is “fine.”

The vibes? Immaculate. The King is healthy. And not only that—he’s peaking at just the right time. You don’t bench LeBron for fun during a playoff push. You protect the investment. You let him get his shots up and stay loose, and you unleash him when the lights are brightest. And that’s exactly what JJ Redick’s doing.

With Luka beside him and fresh legs underneath, this might be the most dangerous LeBron we’ve seen since the Bubble.

Let’s not forget about Maxi Kleber, the under-the-radar wild card who’s been inching closer to a return. The German big man has been sidelined since fracturing his foot in January (back when he was still a Maverick), but Redick confirmed Kleber is now doing shooting and conditioning drills. “Maxie is back on the court doing on-court activities, but there’s no timeline,” Redick clarified.

While there’s no official green light yet, Maxi’s return could seriously juice the Lakers’ frontcourt rotation. His ability to stretch the floor, switch defensively, and bang down low could be the playoff pivot point nobody sees coming. Don’t sleep on him.

The Lakers’ first-round opponent? The surging Minnesota Timberwolves. Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle, and a team are looking to dethrone a dynasty before it starts. But with Luka and LeBron healthy—and Redick playing mental maestro—the Purple and Gold are locked in.

The Lakers snagged the third seed with a 50-32 record, earning home-court advantage at Crypto.com Arena for Games 1, 2, 5, and 7. Game 1 tips off April 19 on ABC, and if the vibes we’re seeing from Redick are real, the Lakers could be cooking the Wolves under the Hollywood lights.

And yeah, we said, “if.” Because nothing is guaranteed. But with the way Redick is managing the team’s mental load, this isn’t a coach riding vibes—this is a man-building belief.

Whether you loved him as a shooter, a podcaster, or now as a clipboard genius, JJ Redick is delivering something Lakers fans haven’t seen in years: a team that feels like it’s all-in. Not just physically. Mentally. Emotionally. Strategically.

The King is healthy. Luka’s locked in. Kleber’s lurking. And the Lakers look like a team ready to burn through the West.

Get your popcorn ready. The JJ Redick Playoff Era has officially begun.