The Lakers’ sideline got loud Tuesday night, and JJ Redick insists it was nothing unusual. His vocal clash with Jarred Vanderbilt raised eyebrows, but the coach downplayed the moment as part of the grind of an injury-depleted roster. Yankee Scores reports.
A Timeout Turns Tense
Redick pulled Vanderbilt just 16 seconds into the second quarter against Oklahoma City, prompting a visible shouting match. “Nothing personal with him,” Redick said, calling it “normal stuff” during a stressful stretch. Austin Reaves and assistant Nate McMillan stepped in as tempers flared, but Vanderbilt didn’t return to the game and left without speaking to reporters.
JJ Redick benched Vanderbilt after he missed 3 free throws
Jared Vanderbilt was NOT happy and got into it with Redick 👀 pic.twitter.com/K7tkBakEU2
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) April 8, 2026
Struggles on the Court
Vanderbilt had one basket, two rebounds, and a steal in 4 ½ minutes, but missed three straight free throws before the first-quarter buzzer. His inconsistent offensive play has limited his minutes this season, despite his defensive reputation.
Redick’s Frustration Shows
The Lakers, missing Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Reaves, Marcus Smart, and Jaxson Hayes, were routed 123–87 by the Thunder. JJ Redick didn’t hold back afterward: “We’ve got to find nine guys that are, like, all in on us fighting.” He also criticized Rui Hachimura for not doing his job and pointed to Deandre Ayton’s struggles: “He’s having trouble catching the ball. We ran a bunch of plays for him. He just hasn’t been able to catch the ball.”
JJ Redick on why the Lakers haven’t featured Deandre Ayton more:
“He’s having trouble catching the ball. We ran a bunch of plays for him. He’s just had trouble catching the ball.”pic.twitter.com/28eF24iUnX
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) April 8, 2026
Playoff Picture Complicates
The loss snapped a 10-game home winning streak and dropped Los Angeles to 50–29, a game behind Denver for the third seed. With Houston surging, the Lakers’ playoff positioning is suddenly precarious. Redick admitted that chasing better seeding “probably went out the window after the first OKC game.”
The Lakers’ season now hinges on finding cohesion amid injuries and internal tension. Redick’s fiery approach may be exactly what this undermanned team needs—or it could signal deeper cracks as the postseason looms.
