The Los Angeles Lakers are absolutely lighting it up right now, owning a crazy 10-2 record and sitting pretty at the top of the Western Conference after taking down the Atlanta Hawks. They were the first team in the entire NBA to hit 10 wins this season, which is just wild. Even Skip Bayless, on X, had to chime in, saying, “The Los Angeles Lakers now have the NBA’s best record. No, they do not miss him,” and he was talking about LeBron James. Now, Lakers legend Magic Johnson is straight up telling us *why* this team is different.
Faster, Tougher, Deeper: Magic’s Take
Magic Johnson didn’t mince words, he believes this Lakers squad is simply faster and mentally tougher than last year. He posted, “Last year, the Lakers were a slow team that got beat in transition , but not this season. This team is mentally and physically tougher, and that’s why they’re 10-2!” That’s a pretty bold statement, right? Think about it, after losing LeBron James in the offseason, the Lakers were able to pivot and use that salary to boost other parts of the team. They added some serious depth, and their bench is looking way stronger than before. Guys like Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton are already making a real impact.
Redick’s Masterclass
But it’s not just about the roster shake-up. Magic Johnson is giving a ton of credit to LA Lakers head coach JJ Redick, who’s now in his third season at the helm. Even with Luka Doncic out there putting up insane numbers like 39.3 points per game, Magic believes Redick deserves the praise for the Lakers’ improvement. Johnson has seen the development from Redick and is clearly thrilled with his impact. He posted that the “win over the Hawks yesterday showed that JJ Redick has become a great NBA coach. His in-game switch from man-to-man to a zone defense changed the trajectory of the game, and he’s outstanding at drawing up plays out of timeouts!” That’s high praise from a guy who knows a thing or two about winning.
The Lakers’ next challenge is against the Milwaukee Bucks. Can they keep this incredible run going? You know we’ll be watching to see if this “faster, tougher” approach keeps paying off.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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