Reddick: LeBron is in excellent mental shape; Lakers have 7-8 players capable of starting

On September 26th Beijing time, Lakers GM Pelinka and head coach Reddick held a press conference and answered questions from reporters. During the conference, Reddick discussed the following key points—

Reddick said that at this time he hasn’t focused heavily on the new season’s starting lineup but feels the team’s roster already includes 7 to 8 players with starting caliber.

Reddick also mentioned that before and after the free agency period began, he met with LeBron in Hampton and again a few weeks ago in Los Angeles. He revealed that from their conversations it’s clear LeBron’s current mental state is outstanding.

When talking about the team’s overall preparation during the offseason, Reddick clearly stated: “We require every player to reach a ‘championship-level physique.’ This summer, everyone put in a tremendous amount of effort.” He further added that every day he sets three core demands for the players: championship-level body, championship-level communication, and championship-level habits.

Regarding Austin Reaves’ offseason performance, Reddick gave high praise: “Whenever Reaves trains at the facility, he is always the best performer in the gym. His physical condition is excellent now, with great strength, explosiveness, and athleticism all noticeably improved. It’s obvious he spent a lot of time this summer refining his body.”

Speaking about Knecht, Reddick said: “Knecht is in very good shape now... After last season ended, he trained extremely hard, which caused some fatigue during the Summer League... But now his physical condition is excellent, and his mental outlook is great as well.”

At the press conference, Pelinka revealed that the Lakers have reached a contract extension with Reddick. It seems the organization recognizes Reddick’s coaching performance. Last season, the Lakers finished 50-32 and lost 1-4 to the Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs.