Lakers' JJ Redick, Jarred Vanderbilt Get Heated on Bench

Heated exchange between Lakers coach and player during Thunder game

Apr. 8, 2026 at 4:22am

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the heated argument between a basketball coach and player, with the figures and court broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in vibrant team colors.A heated sideline exchange between a coach and player exposes the internal tensions within the struggling Lakers organization.Oklahoma City Today

Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach JJ Redick and forward Jarred Vanderbilt got into a heated argument on the bench during the team's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night. The incident occurred in the second quarter after Redick quickly subbed Vanderbilt out of the game, leading to a shouting match between the two that required teammate Jake LaRavia to step in and hold Vanderbilt back.

Why it matters

The heated exchange between Redick and Vanderbilt highlights the growing tension and frustration within the Lakers organization as they struggle to find the right rotations and lineups to be competitive this season. Vanderbilt has fallen out of the regular playing rotation, and the incident suggests there may be deeper issues between the player and coaching staff.

The details

In the second quarter of the Lakers-Thunder game, Redick wasted no time calling a timeout and subbing Vanderbilt out of the game after he had played just 16 seconds. Vanderbilt did not take kindly to the quick hook and the two got into a heated argument on the bench, with teammate Jake LaRavia having to step in and hold Vanderbilt back. The broadcast caught some of the back-and-forth between the two.

  • The incident occurred in the second quarter of the Lakers-Thunder game on Tuesday, April 8, 2026.

The players

JJ Redick

An assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers who has been critical of Jarred Vanderbilt's play and role on the team this season.

Jarred Vanderbilt

A forward for the Los Angeles Lakers who has fallen out of the regular playing rotation and appears to be frustrated with his diminished role on the team.

Jake LaRavia

A Lakers player who had to step in and hold back Jarred Vanderbilt during the heated exchange with coach JJ Redick.

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What they’re saying

“It's not quite clear why Redick is being this hard on Vanderbilt, and it looks like Vanderbilt is simply frustrated since he'd been in the doghouse for most of the 2025-26 season.”

— Jedd Pagaduan, Author

What’s next

The Lakers will need to address the growing tension between Redick and Vanderbilt, as the team looks to find a way to get the most out of its roster and remain competitive in the Western Conference playoff race.

The takeaway

The heated exchange between Lakers assistant coach JJ Redick and forward Jarred Vanderbilt highlights the challenges the team is facing in managing its rotations and keeping players engaged as they struggle to find consistency this season.