{
  "id": 14860389,
  "title": "Lakers’ JJ Redick doubles down on his ‘MVP’ rule ahead of NBA season",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/lakers-jj-redick-doubles-down-on-his-mvp-rule-ahead-of-nba-season",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-16T03:34:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/lakers-jj-redick-doubles-down-033401340.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "JJ Redick is entering his third season with the Los Angeles Lakers with a retooled roster led by Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. It is safe to assume that he has a lot of things on his mind, and Redick would be the first to admit that he can be totally consumed by basketball. He will lean heavily on Doncic and Reaves , while trying to seamlessly […] The post Lakers’ JJ Redick doubles down on his…",
  "key_points": [
    "JJ Redick reaffirms rule against discussing MVP until 50 games in",
    "Lakers roster includes Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves for preseason",
    "Shai Gilgeous-Alexander absent from MVP poll, possibly due to fatigue"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Redick's refusal to engage in individual award debates signals a coaching philosophy that prioritizes team cohesion and roster integration over the distractions of personal accolades during the early season.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Ziaire Williams addresses injury concerns ahead of Lakers’ preseason finale vs. Nuggets",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/ziaire-williams-addresses-injury-concerns-ahead-of-lakers-preseason",
        "published": "2026-10-16T04:11:58.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}