“He disappointed me”: JJ Redick teases after the cardboard of Luka Doncic in front of the Mavs

By Pierre-Andréa Fraile | Sports journalist

For his first return to the American Airlines Center from his Lakers trade, Luka Doncic met expectations with a masterful performance. Invited to react there, his trainer, JJ Redick, split a exit filled with playful.

In a busy evening with ten games on the program, fans could have had trouble making a choice. Several posters opposed after all western franchises fully affected by the race for the playoffs which rages there. However, one of them was particularly distinguished, namely the one who opposed the Lakers to the Mavericks. And for good reason, since she coincided with the long -awaited return of Luka Doncic to Dallas.

JJ Redick's joke reaction to Luka Doncic's recital

For the first time since the trade that sent him to the Lakers last February, Doncic was once again walking the Prosecutor's Office of the American Airlines Center this Wednesday. Acclaimed by the Texan public, he did not give a gift to his old team and A atomized with in particular 45 points registered. Inevitably delighted by this performance synonymous with victory (112-97), JJ Redick said it was hungry at a press conference:

JJ Redick : To tell the truth, I thought he was going to finish with 50 points. He disappointed me. (Laughs)

It must be said that at halftime, the Slovenian back already totaled 31 points, which suggested an even more massive box. The Angelino coach has it to be amused before commenting with more seriously Luka's evening:

JJ Redick : I would like to start by speaking of the moment during the broadcast of the video tribute to which he was the subject. He was sitting alone, he fully experienced this moment and he let himself be vulnerable. Some of his teammates came to comfort him, others also let their emotions speak, ditto for some coaches … It was a magnificent moment, I found the video great.

But what especially marked me was his ability to perform after that. The lights rose, he still had tears in his eyes just before the in-between … Having this mental force to succeed in delivering this kind of performance after such a sequence is superhuman. And I think that all of his teammates are aware of it because they know what he has gone through in the past two months.

It is therefore with a feeling of pride, but also of mission accomplished that Doncic and his coach were able to leave the Dallas room. From now on, place at rest for the Purple & Gold, who still have to pocket a victory in order to ensure that they are finished in third place in the west. To do this, it will therefore be necessary to win at home against Houston this Friday, or leave from Portland with a success two days later.

Obviously won over by Luka Dononic's demonstration against the Mavericks, JJ Redick criticized him with a lot of second degree for not having reached the 50 points bar. This, before greeting the strength it took Slovenian to shine in this context.