The Los Angeles Lakers are heading into a make-or-break offseason. New head coach JJ Redick has been emphasizing that players need to be in “championship shape.” Redick’s directive extends beyond mere physical conditioning. It focuses on mental preparation as the squad prepares for the 2015 season.
To start training camp, Redick instituted an all-out conditioning boot camp. His main aim was to increase physical stamina and develop mental toughness. One of our hardest player challenges during these sessions was a sprint test, where players had to complete six court sprints in under 34 seconds. After a short recovery, they did ten court sprints in about 60 seconds, recovered again, and sprinted back to do six court lengths in 34 seconds.
Redick further explained that his message wasn’t aimed at any one specific player but, instead, directed at the team as a whole. He stated, “I think there’s three ways I kind of view, ‘Are we in shape?’” He continued to explain that these factors involve sprinting back on defense, playing with pace on offense and playing physical on the floor.
As for the Lakers, they’re fresh off a 50-win, playoff appearance season. They went on to clinch the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference playoffs and are hungry to continue riding that momentum. Their path was cut short with a first-round exit against the Minnesota Timberwolves. As they get set for their third season, Redick’s work is designed to prevent years of eager hopes turning to heartbreak.
No player in the league has received as much hype as Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic for his transformation this offseason. To counter this change, he trained twice a day with high-impact workouts and severe diet control. Doncic echoed Redick’s sentiments about conditioning, stating, “It’s not just physical shape, it’s mental shape, too,” emphasizing the holistic nature of their training. “The work we’ve been able to do in the practice week has really set ourselves up for success.” Both are very important. We’re doing it in practice. It was great. Everybody’s in great shape. But everybody’s running and it’s been beautiful so far,” remarked Doncic.
In perhaps his greatest gamble, Redick wants his players to seek out “short bursts” during games. They’ll be matched up with the Phoenix Suns. This tactic is to keep the player from feeling tired during long stretches of play. Namely, it uniquely eliminates rotations that would force players to remain on the court for 8–10 minutes at a time. Beyond that, Redick recognized that he’d need to be “sensitive” to the workloads of key players—like, say, a Luka Doncic or an Austin Reaves.
The training camp experience has not been without challenge. All-Star players LeBron James, Marcus Smart, and Adou Thiero missed practice due to various injuries. This development is particularly troubling given how ill prepared they seem to be for this year’s known upcoming preseason. As the Lakers concluded their last practice before facing the Suns in their six-game preseason schedule, Redick joined his players for a final push during full-court sprints.
Though his devotional schedule was rigorous, Redick jokingly confessed that his approach may have affected his Cool Factor in the locker room. “I think they hate me at the moment, I don’t know,” he said unapologetically after completing a difficult set of sprints.
Redick concluded his workout with a light-hearted remark: “I just ran the last six, and I’m good [not running anymore for the day].” Yet, his leadership style blends tough, goal-driven training with light-hearted humor. It creates a friendly but competitive environment within the team that is motivating.
As the Lakers prepare to take on new challenges, their goal is to develop that championship mentality that marries the body’s preparedness with the mind’s toughness. Under Redick’s leadership, the team’s members are ready to enter this upcoming season full of energy and grit.
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