During JJ Redick’s first two seasons as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, they’ve finished 18th (2024-25) and 15th (2025-26) in opposing turnover rate and never eclipsed 14.6%, per Cleaning the Glass. While it was only a preseason game against the Sacramento Kings, which project as one of the league’s worst teams this year, their performance Monday night in that regard had Redick quite content.
“The defense carried over [from practice]. I think we had 16 turnovers forced in the first half…and
[26] overall,” Redick said of his team’s play inthe 127-103 win. “I know it’s a preseason game, [but] first time since 2000 the Lakers have done that. Clearly, that disruption we talked about carried over,”
Redick was also happy with the Lakers’ showing offensively. Despite Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler not playing, they scored 127 points, including 73 in the first half, and made quick, smart decisions. Projected rotation players in Quentin Grimes (16 points), Ziaire Williams (13) and Jake LaRavia (12) combined for 41 points on 19 shots while Luka Dončić led the way with 21 points (5-of-12 shooting).
“That first half, our organization was at 93%. Our advantage creation was at 65%. We were able to score the basketball,” Redick said. “I thought we did a good job throughout the game of making the right play and passing the ball and not having it stick. Didn’t run a ton of early drags even when Luka was out there but were able to generate good things. Obviously, the defense being able to force turnovers helped our offense. Getting stops helped our offense. I thought our good jobs did a good job, overall, with our running patterns…We just consistently did the right play and the right play helped our teammates.”
If the Lakers can make forcing turnovers a prominent part of their defensive identity — their opposing turnover rate was 25.2% on Monday — it could certainly help boost their chances of being a good or great defense. Among the teams to finish top 10 in defensive rating last season, five of them were sixth or better in opponent turnover rate. A year prior, five of the top nine were seventh or better in opponent turnover rate.
It’s not a prerequisite for being a good defensive unit but it’s certainly a pathway to being one and Redick seems to want that disruption from his team. In the opening preseason game of the year, he got it.
You can follow Jackson on Twitter at @jackfrank_jjf.
