“I mean, first of all, he couldn’t move at all, so it wasn’t.” this is what Luka Doncic had to say about his time with his new coach JJ Redick. Luka didn’t even need to step on the court in Lakers gear before taking a playful jab at JJ Redick. He said this in his introductory press conference. That said, he also made sure to show his respect and excitement about teaming up in L.A.

The Lakers’ blockbuster trade may have sent shockwaves through the NBA, but for head coach JJ Redick, there’s little time to reflect. “Unfortunately for me, this last month has been a lot, so I’m not in the reflective mood just yet,” Redick admitted when asked if he had processed the magnitude of the deal. “My job is to coach this team tonight, try to get Luka acclimated and get him back on the court.”

The emotional weight of the trade wasn’t lost on him. Redick acknowledged the difficulty of saying goodbye to key players, noting, “Certainly a lot of mixed emotions, particularly around the loss of family members. A.D., Max, Jalen they were part of our family.”

But at the same time, he recognized the rare opportunity in front of him. “As much as we can hyperbolize this trade as the craziest trade in sports history, it really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to trade for a player of Luka’s caliber in his prime.”

Balancing the human side of the business with his role as a coach, Redick emphasized empathy. “I’ve been traded twice. I’ve had really close friends traded. You don’t wave a magic wand and everything’s okay a day later… This is a process, and our group’s committed to making sure we get this right.”

With All-Star break approaching, Redick isn’t dwelling on the past. His focus is clear—getting Luka settled and keeping the Lakers’ momentum going. So when can we see him suiting up for the Lakers?

Luka Doncic to practice in full-contact drills soon

The Lakers’ future just got a serious upgrade with Luka Doncic in town. If he and LeBron James build chemistry fast, a title run isn’t out of the question. Adding a solid big man to replace Anthony Davis would make that even more realistic. But before all that, Doncic has to actually hit the court.

The 25-year-old hasn’t played since Christmas, making him ineligible for All-NBA honors after five straight selections. He strained his left calf in a loss to the Timberwolves, going down so hard he couldn’t even make it back on defense. That injury kept him out for 19 games, and just two games after returning, he went down again with a bruised left heel. This stretch has been rough, and Lakers fans are understandably anxious since he has played 70 games in a season only once since his rookie year.

Rob Pelinka confirmed Doncic will join full-contact drills Wednesday, with a return likely before the Lakers wrap up their four-game homestand. Doncic isn’t making the same mistake of rushing back. “For the first time, I took my time (to) get it to heal 100%,” he admitted.

Once he’s back, he’ll take over ball-handling duties, pushing Austin Reaves off-ball and making life easier for James, who’s been vocal about wanting to play off the ball more. Defense is another story without Davis, but with two generational scorers running the show, the Lakers might just outgun their way to wins.