Ever felt that you could accomplish the same task better if you did things differently? The author of this article certainly has and I think we all have. I have even switched jerseys when I felt that my team could play better in NBA 2K! No matter how much we avoid it, superstitions are hard to be uprooted among some people. After all, at times when it feels that skills and hard work aren’t always enough, a bit of luck is wished for, isn’t it? As it turns out, JJ Redick’s mindset may have also taken the same route… ‘may’.

Earlier today, it was announced that the Lakers squad decided to wear their ‘statement edition’ jerseys during the upcoming Knicks matchup. A reason behind this may be the fact that, per reports, they recorded a 1-9 win streak this season in the alternate uniforms. However, as the ‘city edition’ jerseys are being discarded, JJ Redick did not specify whether it was because of a superstitious belief.

All he said was, “I was informed that that was the case. I’m just hopeful that we’re wearing matching jerseys and matching shorts. I don’t really care what color the jerseys are”.

Further, on the same topic, JJ Redick also recalled, “We had a lot of thoughts about the baby blue Clippers T-shirt jerseys. Never had any superstitions around them, but we had some thoughts on those jerseys.”

According to ESPN journalist Dave McMenamin, though, the Lakers squad will wear the Lake Show uniforms 7 more times this season after Saturday. However, the team intends to “reassess its uniform schedule during the All-Star break,” McMenamin added.

The Lakers had recorded a 6-game win streak in November when the city edition uniforms made their debut. But the November 21 matchup against the Orlando Magic saw the LA franchise leading by two points. 18 seconds remained… AD ended up missing 2 free throws. Franz Wagner secured an opportunity to sink a go-ahead triple, as 2.5 seconds remained to help Orlando secure the win!

And as the team continued donning that jersey, the situation did not improve. In December itself, there was a 29-point blowout by the Timberwolves. This was accompanied by an overtime loss by the Hawks. To cap it off, there was also a missed buzzer-beater by LeBron James during a loss against the Pistons. One game was won when wearing the outfit. Back on January 2nd, they recorded a 114-106 score against the Blazers. Currently, on a 27-19 record, James and Co. occupy the 5th seed in the West. Seemingly, not looking to take risks, a little after the mid-way point, JJ Redick may not want the progress halted. Especially not because of some bad omens!

Fans certainly seemed to have grasped the sentiment behind the change. From comments like “Those city jerseys should be perma banned. Never put “LakeShow” on a jersey again” to “THEY KNOW THEY’RE CURSED,” they’ve agreed that a change needs to be made. After all, if one thing is known about Lakers fans, it is that they don’t hold back from having the occasional bout of superstition.

JJ Redick’s franchise once ‘tied’ with the Dallas Cowboys as the most superstitious fanbase!

Back in April 2024, NBC Los Angeles reported on a study conducted by Casino.org. The same revealed that fans of the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Cowboys franchises were the most superstitious. The report claimed, “Their superstitions are strange and run deep, sometimes through generations. They also aren’t the only ones with superstitions. The star players have them as well.”

LeBron James often starts games by grabbing chalk in his palms and tossing it into the air. Furthermore, his right arm sleeve, sneakers, and pre-game attire indicate that ‘The Chosen One’ adds superstition to his skill set.

LeBron James wasn’t the only one who lifted up the Lakers’ status as a superstitious team. Prior to the All-Time Scorer’s arrival, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal were the faces of the LA franchise. They worked together to even achieve the rare ‘3-peat’ feat. Despite the talent they possessed, however, both stars also engaged in some things that highlighted their superstitious nature. Shaq famously painted the skin of the toe that had lost the toenail with a black toenail hardener. Why, you might be asking? Well, it was because the first time he did it, he scored a career-high 41 points. Meanwhile, the late Black Mamba occasionally wore two pairs of socks for added comfort, and follow a very specific free-throw routine.

After the Spurs had overturned an 11-point deficit, in mid-January, fans had already started commenting on the ‘Lake Show’ jerseys. From comments like “The jerseys are fire but bad luck I guess” to “burn them s—s!”, it was clear where they were placing the blame for the losses.

Well, the words have been heard, and a change is happening. With the ‘official’ reasons still unknown. Whether this will change the LA team’s fortunes for the better, and whether JJ Redick retains the job by the end of the season, all remains to be seen.