JJ Redick Sparks Concern With Blunt Comments Ahead of Lakers-Thunder Game 1
The Los Angeles Lakers nearly let a first-round series slip through their fingers against the Houston Rockets.
Despite jumping out to a 3–1 lead, L.A. lost momentum late before regaining control with a 98–78 Game 6 blowout on Friday, powered by a vintage 28-point performance from LeBron James.
The win pushed them into the second round and briefly restored belief that a deep playoff run was still within reach.
That optimism didn't last long.
On Sunday, head coach JJ Redick offered a sobering assessment of their next opponent, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“We saw a stat in our morning meeting, teams that have had back-to-back, 10 or more better net ratings in consecutive seasons, you’re talking about the ’95-’96 Bulls and ’96-’97 Bulls and the ’15-’17 Warriors. You’re literally talking about two of the greatest teams of all time,” Redick said.
“I said to a bunch of people yesterday, off-site, talking about this series, to me, the Thunder is one of the greatest teams ever in NBA history. It’s just the reality. They’re that good. I think our guys recognize that and respect that, and we know what kind of task we have in front of us.”
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The 1995–96 and 1996–97 Chicago Bulls and the 2015–17 Golden State Warriors are widely viewed as two of the best basketball teams ever assembled.
The Bulls paired Michael Jordan's peak scoring with Scottie Pippen's versatility and an all-time defense, with Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman anchoring the paint, finishing 72–10 with a staggering +13.4 net rating in the regular season (12.1 in the playoffs) and backing it with a dominant 15–3 title run.
The Warriors evolved that dominance into the modern game. With Stephen Curry's elite long-range shooting, Kevin Durant's versatile scoring, and Draymond Green’s defense and playmaking, they combined elite spacing, depth, and versatility, going 16–1 in the 2017 playoffs and posting an 11.6 net rating in the regular season and a 13.5 net rating in the postseason.
Both teams crushed opponents on both ends, blending superstar talent with systems that made winning feel inevitable.
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Now, the 2025-26 Oklahoma City Thunder have entered that conversation.
Fresh off a championship run a year ago, they posted a league-best 64–18 record and followed it with one of the most dominant statistical profiles in modern NBA history, finishing with a +11.1 net rating, the eighth-highest ever recorded.
Second on that list? The 2025 Thunder with a net rating of +12.8.
At the center of their core is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the league’s second leading scorer at 31.1 points per game and reigning MVP, flanked by rising stars Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, plus elite role players like Isaiah Hartenstein, Lu Dort, Alex Caruso, and Ajay Mitchell.
Notably, Oklahoma City posted a +13.1 net rating with SGA on the floor, comfortably clearing the +10 threshold Redick referenced.
By comparison, the Lakers enter with a modest +1.5 net rating compared to the Thunder's league-best +11.1, and will be without their star player, Luka Doncic, to start the series.
Even with the injury concerns, Redick's comments immediately reset expectations for the Lakers, and that's where real doubt creeps in.
By framing Oklahoma City as an all-time great team, Redick is implying that L.A. will need a near-perfect performance just to have a chance in this series.
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This story was originally published May 3, 2026 at 8:02 PM.