The Los Angeles Lakers wrapped up a disappointing road trip on Friday night, with head coach JJ Redick missing six rotation players in their matchup against the Denver Nuggets.
Being so short-handed against a team led by Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic was always going to be a tough challenge. However, despite the struggles throughout the trip and playing on the second night of a back-to-back, Redick had his team prepared.
With Jaxson Hayes and Trey Jemison unavailable, the Lakers relied on Alex Len and Christian Koloko as their only centers. Although Koloko dealt with foul trouble, his performance impressed Redick, giving him more confidence to use him in future games. Speaking to Spectrum SportsNet, Redick expressed his appreciation:
“Yeah, it does. I think Goody, Christian, Trey, we’ve gotten incredible value out of those guys and love having them in our program.”
Before this road trip, Koloko had not played more than 10 minutes in a game since Jan. 28 against the Philadelphia 76ers. Being thrust into a bigger role on short notice—while also guarding one of the best players in the world—was no easy task.
In 20 minutes of action, the 24-year-old contributed eight points and seven rebounds while holding his own defensively against Jokic. Naturally, the three-time MVP drew fouls, forcing Koloko to adjust.
Beyond his defensive presence, Koloko serves as a reliable lob threat for Austin Reaves, LeBron James, and Luka Doncic when the team is fully healthy. Although Jemison had a strong stretch earlier, Koloko’s athleticism and length could help him solidify a backup role behind Hayes.
JJ Redick Proud of Lakers’ Effort in Loss to Nuggets
Given how shorthanded they were, the Lakers could have easily conceded defeat. Though they ultimately fell short, the game gave role players a chance to step up and showcase their abilities.
Dalton Knecht, Jordan Goodwin, Christian Koloko, and Shake Milton made the most of their minutes, earning Redick’s praise despite the team’s struggles late in the game.
“I’m proud of the group for their level of fight and resiliency, particularly not getting off to a great start there in the second half,” Redick said. “Our transition defense was pretty bad from the first six minutes on. And then fighting back and taking a lead. There’s a lot we could’ve done better, but the group competed tonight and gave ourselves a chance to win… Just very, very proud of their fight and the way they started the game and the resiliency they showed to get back in the game.”
