Lakers' JJ Redick commends Luka Doncic's leadership despite loss to Spurs

Connor Moreno

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Lakers' JJ Redick commends Luka Doncic's leadership despite loss to Spurs image

The Los Angeles Lakers were missing two of their three best players in their 107-91 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, and Luka Doncic did all he could. 

Doncic finished with 38 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and three steals, scoring or assisting 38 of Los Angeles' 43 first half points. But in the end, the Lakers (and Doncic) ran out of gas to a young, athletic and surging Spurs team yet again. 

Despite the loss, Lakers coach JJ Redick commended Doncic's leadership, stating that he quite literally did everything he could. 

"He had the requisite disposition of leadership tonight," Redick said postgame. "His body language, his confidence. He gave his teammates confidence."

The 26-year-old star continues on an MVP campaign as he leads the NBA in scoring and has the Lakers staying afloat near the top of the Western Conference. This resurgent season, mixed with his newfound market in Los Angeles, pushed him to the top of the NBA in the latest All-Star voting returns. 

MORE: Luka Doncic reacts to leading NBA in All-Star voting

Doncic thankful for leading in All-Star votes

"Honestly, it does (hit me a certain way)," Doncic said. "It's the first time that happened to me. It's pretty amazing; a kid from Slovenia only could dream about that. Dream about being in the NBA. It's pretty amazing, so I really appreciate all the votes... It definitely hit me. It's amazing."

Redick touched on Doncic's placement in the votes as well, saying, "That's awesome. I think he's established himself as a global superstar. He has for years now. Certainly speaks to the popularity of the Lakers brand and the amount of fans that follow us and cheer for us and live and breathe with every shot in every game like everyone in that locker room does and I think he's a fantastic representative of this organization."

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Contributing Writer