Lakers head coach JJ Redick just dropped a bomb at his Media Day press conference, openly stating that while he’s “pretty confident” in Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, and Walker Kessler for three starting spots, the “other two spots will not be two white guys.” Talk about addressing the elephant in the room head-on! This isn’t just a casual comment, it throws a whole new wrench into the Lakers’ offseason plans and the battle for those coveted starting roles.
The “Joke” That Nobody Said Out Loud (Until Now)
The buzz around the Lakers’ offseason has been all about getting younger and adding more athleticism. We all saw the moves. But there’s been this low-key, unspoken joke bubbling up about the team also getting… well, “more white.” It wasn’t just a new thing, either. Luka and Austin were already there before the summer, along with Jake LaRavia and Dalton Knecht. But then the Lakers went out and acquired Walker Kessler and signed Sandro Mamukelashvili, and suddenly, that quiet joke was impossible to ignore. It became one of those things everyone knew but nobody dared to mention in public. Redick, however, just decided to rip the band-aid off.
Redick’s Bold Statement Reshapes the Starting Lineup Hunt
Earlier in the presser, Redick had mentioned that starting spots were up for grabs. When pushed to clarify if he meant multiple spots or just one, his response was crystal clear, and it reset the whole conversation. By confidently naming Dončić, Reaves, and Kessler, Redick locked down three spots. His follow-up , “The other two spots will not be two white guys. Those are the two things I’m confident” , completely reframes the competition. It’s a huge signal about the team’s direction and commitment to balance. For players like LaRavia, Mamukelashvili, and Knecht, who were already fighting for minutes, this means the competition just got intensely focused, as they’re now realistically battling for *one* specific spot. With Quentin Grimes also heavily favored to be a starter, it looks like only one position is truly wide open for the remaining contenders.
This doesn’t mean we won’t see different lineups throughout the season, though. It’s totally possible, even likely, that an “All-White lineup” could hit the floor at some point during a game. But when it comes to the starting five, the coach has made his intentions known. The fight for those final two starting spots just got a whole lot more interesting, and you know every single player on that Lakers roster is paying attention.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
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