Having Luka Doncic and trying to build an elite offense is like being handed a Ferrari in a race against 18-wheelers. You are pretty much guaranteed success. Where the Los Angeles Lakers will need the extra push is on the defensive end. JJ Redick has been delivering as much throughout the summer.
At Lakers Mediay Day, veteran leader Kevon Looney was asked what the team is going to need to unlock their full potential. The answer to that was simple.
"We're going to have to be a good defensive team. That's something that JJ's been talking about to us the whole summer, about setting our foundation on the defensive end."
Ensuring the focus for these players falls on the defensive side of the court is the right move on Redick's part. That is not to say the Lakers should consider the offensive end an afterthought altogether. However, there will be far less work to install an elite unit on the attack in Los Angeles.
Lakers defense will dictate if they can contend in 2026-27
Teams that win championships typically have great balance on both ends of the court — offense and defense. A notable recent exception would be a group like the Denver Nuggets who won it all in 2023. However, even they turned the corner when it mattered most to win it all.
They came into the playoffs as an average defensive unit (15th in the NBA) that was propelled by their offense (fifth in the NBA). They fixed that in the postseason. The Nuggets had the fourth best playoff defense paired with the number one offense.
With a much simpler path to having an elite offense already in place, the Lakers' focus being on defense gives them a chance to find the balance needed to truly compete in a meaningful way by the time spring comes. That message clearly got through to everyone, too.
The Lakers' perimeter defenders were raving about the idea of playing with Walker Kessler, praising his ability to offer an insurance policy at the rim for when they get beat. Kessler returned the favor, highlighting the gifts of the unit in front of him.
Walker Kessler elaborated, saying he feels the Lakers' perimeter defense is being overlooked: "A lot of guys are very smart on the perimeter, positionally, can play really good defense. And then we’ve got guys that are just ball hawks, that just hound the ball." https://t.co/XorVmCqsvW pic.twitter.com/G8Ci1kfuyy
— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) September 29, 2026
Jaden Hardy clearly got the message when he spoke about improving his defense over the summer. Quentin Grimes understands the assignment, too, aspiring to be physical and intense like the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs. Cameron Carr has talked about wanting to get on the court with his defense.
The guys are on board with what Redick said.
If the Lakers can back up the talk, being a contender by year's end is not the wildest of thoughts. Redick wanted to do his part to mold this team into a championship-level group. It sure sounds like he is off to a great start.
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