Lakers' Redick Downplays Quarrel with Vanderbilt as 'Normal'

Coach says heated exchange was due to a 'confluence of things' during loss to Thunder

Apr. 8, 2026 at 1:08pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Lakers coach JJ Redick said a 'confluence of things' led to a heated exchange between him and Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt in the second quarter of L.A.'s 123-87 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday. Redick called timeout just 16 seconds into the second quarter to sub Vanderbilt out of the game, leading to a brief but intense confrontation between the two.

Why it matters

Tensions between coaches and players are not uncommon in the NBA, especially during a tough loss. However, the Lakers have struggled this season and any signs of discord could be concerning for a team looking to turn things around.

The details

Redick called timeout just 16 seconds into the second quarter to sub Vanderbilt out of the game, leading to a brief but intense confrontation between the two on the sideline. Redick later downplayed the incident, calling it 'normal stuff' and saying there was no personal animosity between them.

  • The incident occurred in the second quarter of the Lakers' 123-87 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, April 8, 2026.

The players

JJ Redick

The head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Jarred Vanderbilt

A forward for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It's nothing personal with him. Normal stuff from my end,”

— JJ Redick, Lakers Head Coach

The takeaway

While tensions between coaches and players can sometimes boil over, especially during a tough loss, Redick's comments suggest this was an isolated incident and not indicative of any deeper issues within the Lakers organization.