"He couldn't move" - Luka Doncic mocks new HC JJ Redick's injury woes during their stint in Dallas

Last weekend, the blockbuster trade that sent Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic to the LA Lakers shook the basketball world. Doncic arrived in Los Angeles on Sunday night, and on Tuesday, he had his introductory press conference at the UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California.

Among the topics discussed was Doncic’s relationship with his new coach, JJ Redick. Doncic said he is "really excited" to play for the first-year coach and even joked about Redick’s athleticism during their brief time as teammates with the Dallas Mavericks.

"First of all, he couldn't move," Doncic said.

Redick arrived in Dallas via a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans at the 2021 trade deadline. The Lakers coach played just 13 games with the Mavericks during the 2020-21 season, as he was hampered by a sore Achilles tendon. He finished out his 15-year NBA career that season before retiring in the following offseason.

Before accepting the Lakers job, Redick hosted the podcasts "The Old Man and the Three" and "Mind the Game" with LeBron James. He also appeared as an analyst for ESPN.

Four seasons removed from their time as teammates, Redick now reunites with Doncic as his coach in LA.

Luka Doncic thought trade was an April Fools' joke

Luka Doncic, the new Lakers superstar, admitted he was shocked when he learned about the high-profile trade that sent him out of Dallas.

"Everybody was suprised, so you can imagine how surprised I was," Doncic said in his introductory press conference. "I was almost asleep. So when I got a call, I had to check if it was April 1st. I didn't really believe it at first."

Luka Doncic’s reaction can be attributed to his love for the city that drafted him in 2018. In a recent interview in Slovenia, Luka's father, Sasa Doncic, said his son deeply "respected" Dallas and often visited hospitals and charity events.

Doncic now joins the aging LeBron James in LA. With the trade deadline approaching, it remains to be seen whether the Lakers are done making roster moves.