Lakers’ JJ Redick doubles down on his ‘MVP’ rule ahead of NBA season

JJ Redick, entering his third season with the Los Angeles Lakers, has reaffirmed his long-standing rule against discussing MVP status until at least 50 games into the season. The veteran guard, now part of a restructured roster featuring Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, is committed to focusing on the team's success rather than individual accolades.

During practice on Thursday, Redick addressed the annual survey indicating Doncic wasn't among the top MVP candidates for the upcoming season. Unbothered by the rankings, Redick stated, "I keep the same rule that I kept when I worked for media. I don't want to talk about MVP until at least 50 games into the season." Other top picks in the poll included Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs, Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, and Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Interestingly, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the two-time reigning MVP, was absent, possibly due to voter fatigue. Despite this, Redick remains laser-focused on guiding the Lakers through their preseason, particularly navigating the significant roster changes, including contributions from new players Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Kevon Looney, and Collin Sexton. The team concluded their preseason on Friday with a game against the Denver Nuggets.