JJ Redick Jokes About 'Rigged' Basketballs After Lakers' Slow Start vs Wizards

Lakers coach lightheartedly blames NBA game balls for early shooting struggles in comfortable win over Washington.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 7:03am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a basketball game in motion, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and shape, conveying the energy and dynamism of the sport.Redick's lighthearted comments about 'rigged' basketballs capture the veteran coach's ability to keep his team focused and loose, even in the face of early struggles.Los Angeles Today

Despite missing star player Luka Doncic, JJ Redick's Los Angeles Lakers cruised to a 120-101 victory over the Washington Wizards. The game started slowly for the Lakers, with the team missing several early shots. After the game, Redick jokingly blamed the NBA basketballs, suggesting they were 'rigged' with electronic chips that caused the ball to 'rattle off' the rim whenever the Lakers got near the basket. The win marked the Lakers' ninth consecutive home victory and put Redick on the brink of history, needing just one more win to become only the second Lakers coach and fifth in NBA history to achieve 50+ wins in each of his first two seasons.

Why it matters

Redick's lighthearted comments about the game balls highlight the veteran coach's ability to keep his team loose and focused, even when facing early struggles. The Lakers' continued dominance at home and Redick's potential historic milestone also demonstrate the team's strong performance this season under his leadership.

The details

The Lakers were able to pull away for a comfortable win over the Wizards, despite missing star player Luka Doncic. The game started slowly for Redick's squad, with the team missing several early shots. However, veteran LeBron James took control, finishing with a triple-double to seal the victory. After the game, Redick jokingly blamed the NBA basketballs, suggesting they were 'rigged' with electronic chips that caused the ball to 'rattle off' the rim whenever the Lakers got near the basket.

  • The Lakers' victory over the Wizards took place on March 31, 2026.

The players

JJ Redick

The head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, who is on the verge of becoming only the second Lakers coach and fifth in NBA history to achieve 50+ wins in each of his first two seasons.

LeBron James

The veteran Lakers star who finished the game against the Wizards with a triple-double, helping to seal the victory for Redick's squad.

Luka Doncic

The Lakers' star player who was absent from the game against the Wizards.

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What they’re saying

“There's a basketball move about that where they put a little electronic chip in the ball, and every time I got near the rim, they would make it rattle off.”

— JJ Redick, Head Coach, Los Angeles Lakers

What’s next

With the win, JJ Redick is now just one victory away from becoming only the second Lakers coach and fifth in NBA history to achieve 50+ wins in each of his first two seasons.

The takeaway

Redick's ability to keep his team loose and focused, even when facing early struggles, highlights his strong leadership and the Lakers' continued dominance at home this season. The team's success under Redick's guidance has put him on the brink of a historic milestone, further cementing his status as one of the NBA's top young coaches.