Lakers Coach Reveals Key Tweak Unlocking Luka Doncic's Best Game

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick has revealed the specific tactical adjustment that is fueling Luka Doncic's historic start to the 2026-27 season.

Doncic is averaging 38.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 1.8 steals per game through the first nine contests.

He leads the NBA in scoring by a wide margin — 8.5 points ahead of the next closest player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

His shooting splits are career-best: 49.5% from the field, 43.1% from three-point range.

But the headline numbers only tell part of the story.

Redick explained that the Lakers have made a deliberate change to how they use Doncic in the half-court offense.

“He's playing great right now,” Redick said.

“And he's doing a great job of playing off the ball. We're trying to set off-ball screens for him.

“I think some of that workload from bringing the ball up against pressure every single possession, it's just not there right now and it's very intentional on our part.”

The shift is subtle but significant.

Instead of having Doncic handle the ball on every possession — bringing it up against full-court pressure, initiating the offense from the top of the key — the Lakers are now using Austin Reaves as the primary ball-handler on many possessions.

Reaves brings the ball up the floor and then sets up plays designed to get Doncic the ball in motion.

Doncic then catches it coming off screens, often with a head of steam and a smaller defender trailing him.

The result is less wear and tear on the 27-year-old superstar and a more unpredictable offense for opposing defenses.

There is a trade-off.

Reaves is averaging a career-high 4.1 turnovers per game so far this season.

But the Lakers are willing to absorb that cost.

The offense currently leads the league in efficiency, and the team sits at 7-2, the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.

Redick was asked whether this is the hottest stretch of basketball he has seen from Doncic.

“Probably this and March,” Redick said.

In March 2026, Doncic averaged 37.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game.

He scored 40 or more points in seven of 16 games that month, including a career Laker-high 60 points against the Miami Heat on the second night of a road back-to-back.

Doncic’s current run is even better.

He became the first player in NBA history to record at least 35 points, five rebounds, five assists and five three-pointers made in six consecutive games.

Through his first eight games played this season, Doncic has totaled 408 points.

That is the most since Wilt Chamberlain scored 418 points to start the 1962-63 season.

Chamberlain averaged 44.8 points per game that year.

Doncic is currently at 38.5 per game.

If he maintains his current pace, he would bring home his first career MVP trophy.

The Lakers have not had an MVP winner since Kobe Bryant in the 2007-08 season.

Doncic’s efficiency from beyond the arc has been the most dramatic improvement.

His 43.1% three-point shooting is by far the best mark of his career.

He is launching shots with confidence from almost any spot on the floor.

The off-ball adjustment is not just about scoring.

It also reduces the physical toll of constant ball-handling against pressure defenses.

Doncic has historically struggled with fatigue late in games and late in seasons.