The 2025-26 season has been anything but smooth sailing for the Los Angeles Lakers, and first-year head coach JJ Redick is feeling the turbulence. What started as a promising campaign has taken a sharp turn, with December marking the beginning of a frustrating slide that’s now spilled into the new year.
The Lakers, once looking like a team ready to make noise in the West, are now struggling to find their footing-even against teams they were expected to handle. Their latest stumble came against the Portland Trail Blazers, and while the loss itself wasn’t shocking given the circumstances, the way it unfolded raised some eyebrows.
Redick was forced to roll out a patchwork lineup in Portland, with key stars Luka Doncic and Deandre Ayton sidelined due to injury. Missing that kind of firepower is never ideal, and it showed.
The Lakers were out of sync, outmatched, and ultimately dropped another double-digit loss-their 15th of the season by that margin. They're now sitting at 24-16, but the record doesn’t tell the full story.
After the game, Redick didn’t sugarcoat the emotional toll this stretch has taken, but he also made it clear that the team can’t afford to spiral.
“I think it’s normal to feel defeated in defeat, if that makes sense, when you lose by 16,” Redick said postgame. “But I do think the job of the coach and the coaching staff and the leaders on the team, the players, it’s all of our job to remain level-headed. The natural highs and lows of the season can be challenging, and this season has felt like a constant challenge.”
Redick’s message is one that resonates in NBA locker rooms around this time of year. January can be a grind.
The adrenaline of opening night is long gone, the All-Star break is still weeks away, and injuries start to pile up. It’s the part of the season where mental toughness matters just as much as talent.
And right now, the Lakers are searching for both.
Against Portland, the energy just wasn’t there. The Blazers, a younger and less experienced group, looked like the hungrier team.
Every time the Lakers made a push, Portland had an answer. That kind of dynamic can be deflating, especially for a veteran group that’s used to dictating the pace-not chasing it.
This wasn’t just a bad shooting night or a case of missing stars. The effort and engagement weren’t where they needed to be. And while Redick and his staff can chalk some of that up to the brutal schedule and injury woes, the bigger concern is the team’s confidence-or lack thereof.
Effort and defense have been buzzwords in L.A. all season. Redick has preached them from day one.
But when the losses start stacking up and the defensive intensity drops, it’s often a sign that belief is starting to waver. That’s what the Lakers need to guard against right now: not just losing games, but losing their edge.
They’ll get a quick chance to respond with a home back-to-back against the Toronto Raptors. That game looms large-not necessarily because of the opponent, but because of what it could reveal about where this team’s head is at.
Can Redick rally the troops? Can the Lakers find that extra gear, even without a full roster?
Looking ahead, the schedule doesn’t do them any favors. The next few weeks are packed with tough matchups, and Redick knows he’ll have to be nimble with his approach.
He acknowledged that managing the upcoming stretch will require flexibility-reading the room, understanding how his players are feeling physically and mentally, and adjusting accordingly. It’s the kind of challenge that tests a coach’s instincts and leadership, especially one still finding his footing in his first season on the sidelines.
The Lakers aren’t out of contention-not by a long shot. But if they’re going to right the ship, it’ll take more than just getting healthy.
It’ll take a renewed sense of urgency, belief, and cohesion. Redick’s message is clear: stay level-headed, stay committed, and trust that the work will pay off.
Now it’s on the Lakers to show they’re still in the fight.