JJ Redick Admits Losing 'A Lot of Money' to Luka Dončić
The Lakers coach revealed a humorous anecdote about a team fine system and his former teammate's betting prowess.
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick revealed that he lost a significant amount of money to Luka Dončić during their time as teammates with the Dallas Mavericks due to a team fine system. Redick shared this anecdote following the Lakers' 127-105 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night.
Dončić contributed significantly to the Lakers' win, scoring 28 points, along with eight rebounds and seven assists. A highlight of his performance was a half-court shot that banked in just before halftime. Redick was asked about this shot postgame and elaborated on the team's "silly fine system," where players contribute personal cash for infractions like being late to film sessions or the team bus. This pot is then used for shooting competitions, typically held during shootarounds.
According to Redick, Dončić has been the most frequent winner of these shooting competitions. "I think by far Luka has won it the most," Redick stated. He added that while Dončić hasn't won the competition this year, his half-court make against the Warriors was somewhat expected, especially given the lack of immediate defense.
Redick, a former sharpshooter himself, admitted to losing considerable money to Dončić in these contests. "Even when I was his teammate with the Mavs, I lost a lot of money to him. So I expected it to go in," Redick said, implying that Dončić's practice shooting prowess often translated to financial wins for the Slovenian star.
During the 2020-21 season, Redick and Dončić were teammates on the Dallas Mavericks. Dončić's consistent success in these shooting drills suggests a lucrative side hustle during his playing time with the team.