Former NBA player Eddie Johnson has sharply criticized Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick for praising Luka Doncic's offseason conditioning work. The comments came after the Lakers' 114-110 preseason win over the Sacramento Kings on October 8, where Doncic scored 21 points in just 16 minutes. Redick had noted Doncic used his summer to get into "fantastic shape," but Johnson believes that's an expectation, not an achievement.
Johnson, a former NBA guard, was blunt in his assessment. He argued a coach should never have to celebrate a player for simply working out over the summer. "Give me a break," Johnson said. He views such praise as part of a larger problem of coddling modern players, a dynamic he claims didn't exist during his playing career.
"I never wanted somebody to tell me, 'Oh, Eddie, you in shape.' What does that even mean? Like, you're supposed to be in shape," Johnson stated. He added that Redick's focus should be on tangible basketball improvements, not basic fitness. "It is coddling these guys with this. They shouldn't even say it. It's just shocking to hear stuff like that."
Conditioning has been a recurring topic around Luka Doncic for years. This offseason presented a unique opportunity for him to focus on it. He skipped playing for the Slovenian national team to spend time with his family amid a custody dispute. That break from "live basketball" allowed him to concentrate heavily on cardio and reaching peak physical condition.
Redick highlighted that Doncic "worked his butt off all summer" and even incorporated sprints. For Johnson, that effort is simply the job. He wants coaches to talk about on-court development. "His jump shot is really improved, his ball handling is really improved. His understanding of defensive principles is all there," Johnson said, listing what he believes is praiseworthy. "I don't want to hear a coach talking about a guy got himself in shape. You're supposed to be in shape."
The real test for Doncic and the new-look Lakers begins soon. The team is handling its first season without LeBron James, who joined the Philadelphia 76ers. Their preseason has been a mixed bag, with a 127-103 win over Sacramento on October 5 followed by a 124-98 loss to Golden State on October 6 before their most recent victory.
Their next test is a rematch against the Golden State Warriors at home on October 13. If Doncic's offseason work translates, the proof will be in sustained performance during the long NBA season, not in preseason compliments. Johnson's point is that the headlines should be about stats and wins, not workout routines. Fans can track the team's progress through the upcoming schedule on our schedule page.
The debate shows different philosophies in player development. Redick, a first-year head coach, is publicly supporting his star player's commitment. Johnson, from an older era, sees that as setting a low bar. As the Lakers continue their preseason slate, all eyes will be on whether Doncic's conditioning leads to dominant, consistent play when the games start to count.
