Luka Dončić, the dude who practically *lived* in pick-and-rolls last season and dominated them, is officially about to diversify his game! Head coach JJ Redick is dialing up more off-ball opportunities for Luka in the Lakers’ new offensive system, and we just got a taste of how absolutely wild this could get in Thursday’s win against the Kings.
Redick’s Master Plan for Luka’s Workload
This isn’t just some random experiment, fam, this is a calculated move from Redick himself. The coach has been chatting with Luka about this “off-ball stuff” since last season, and through the summer. He flat out said, “It’s diversification.” Think about it: Luka led the entire league in pick-and-roll possessions last year, sitting in the 90th percentile for efficiency. That’s elite, no doubt. But with a usage rate of 36.8% last season, the highest in the league, it was a heavy, heavy lift. Redick’s goal is to lessen that workload, and giving Luka more chances without the ball could be exactly how we keep him fresh and dangerous all season long. Redick was clear: “early pick and rolls with Austin and Luka are actually very good half-court numbers, like [points per possession] wise. Elite, actually. That’s not to say we’re not going to do that but, habitually, we don’t want to start day one just running drags every time down the floor.” He’s talking about those typical on-ball screens that happen right after crossing half-court. We’re getting something new!
Unlocking the Off-Ball Madness Against the Kings
We saw this new look in action when Luka and Austin Reaves finally hit the floor together with the new squad on Thursday. LA straight-up opened the game with Luka operating *off the ball*! It was a thing of beauty. We saw them in a Horns formation, with Luka making the entry pass to Reaves. Quentin Grimes then cut off a rip screen, and boom, Luka got a flare screen from Kevon Looney. Every single screen forces the defense to make a tough decision, and it flowed seamlessly into an empty-side pick-and-roll. The opposing big was caught in drop coverage, and Luka, off the catch, just curled around that screen with a live dribble and went straight to the rim for an and-one! Are you kidding me?!
And it wasn’t a one-off! Later, Reaves threw a skip pass to Jake LaRavia in the corner. What happened next? Luka quickly sprung over to get a handoff. The Kings tried to double-team him, putting two defenders on the ball, but that just opened up a lane for Luka to hit LaRavia cutting to the rim with a perfect pocket pass. This isn’t just about Luka scoring, it’s about him creating chaos for the defense without having to initiate *every single possession* with the ball in his hands.
The Core is Coming, But The Vision is Clear
Now, let’s be real, we haven’t even seen the full squad out there yet. Our “big three” hasn’t shared the floor for a single second through three preseason games. Walker Kessler just made his debut, but Luka sat out that one. And Collin Sexton? Still waiting for him to hit the exhibition slate. It’s tough, for sure. But even with some key guys out, Redick’s principles are already taking shape. This “more open offensive system” is clearly the priority. The fact that this offense is already showing flashes of its potential with a limited roster? That should have us absolutely hyped for when everyone is finally healthy and on the court together.
So yeah, we’re still waiting for that first look at the whole new core, but what we’ve seen from Luka off-ball is just a peek into what Redick is building. Get ready, because when everyone’s out there, this offense is going to be something else. We’re just getting started!
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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