Lakers' JJ Redick Downplays Verbal Exchange with Jarred Vanderbilt

Redick says incident was 'nothing personal' and a 'normal interaction' amid Lakers' blowout loss to Thunder.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 7:22am

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A cubist-style painting featuring fragmented, geometric shapes in shades of orange, blue, and gray, representing the heated exchange between Lakers coach and player in an abstract, non-literal way.A cubist interpretation of the heated sideline exchange between Lakers coach JJ Redick and player Jarred Vanderbilt, highlighting the team's internal tensions during a difficult season.Oklahoma City Today

Lakers coach JJ Redick said the verbal exchange with reserve forward Jarred Vanderbilt during the second quarter of Tuesday's 123-87 blowout loss to the Thunder was 'nothing personal' and a 'normal interaction' for Redick. The incident occurred after Redick called a timeout early in the quarter and Vanderbilt appeared to try to talk to Redick, leading to a brief exchange on the Lakers' bench.

Why it matters

The Lakers have struggled this season, and incidents like this verbal exchange between a coach and player can be a sign of frustration and a lack of cohesion within the team. How Redick and the Lakers handle these types of situations could impact the team's chemistry and performance going forward.

The details

The exchange happened 16 seconds into the second quarter after a missed shot by the Lakers. As the team went to the bench, Vanderbilt walked into the coaches' huddle and appeared to try to talk to Redick, who was using a whiteboard. Lakers players Austin Reaves and Nate McMillan stepped in to separate Vanderbilt and Redick, and the exchange continued briefly on the bench before Vanderbilt was subbed out and did not return to the game.

  • The incident occurred 16 seconds into the second quarter of the Lakers' game against the Thunder on April 8, 2026.
  • Vanderbilt was subbed out after the exchange and did not play again in the game.

The players

JJ Redick

Lakers head coach who was involved in the verbal exchange with Jarred Vanderbilt.

Jarred Vanderbilt

Lakers reserve forward who had the verbal exchange with coach Redick during the game.

Austin Reaves

Lakers guard who stepped between Redick and Vanderbilt to try to defuse the situation.

Nate McMillan

Lakers assistant coach who also stepped in to separate Redick and Vanderbilt.

Rui Hachimura

Lakers veteran player who Redick also quickly subbed out earlier in the game for not doing his 'job'.

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What they’re saying

“A confluence of things. Again, it's nothing personal with him. Normal stuff from my end. I think for all of us, being undermanned, we've got to scrap and claw, we've got to all be on the same page, We got to be great teammates, we got to all play hard. Called a timeout to get him out of the game. And he reacted, but again, normal interaction for me.”

— JJ Redick, Lakers Head Coach

What’s next

The Lakers will look to bounce back in their next three games as they try to find the right 'nine guys' who are 'all in' and willing to 'fight' for the team.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the frustrations and lack of cohesion within the struggling Lakers team this season. How Redick and the players handle these types of exchanges could be crucial to the team's ability to turn things around and finish the season strong.