Honestly, the energy surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers first game this season felt different. It wasn't just another opening night at Crypto.com Arena. You’ve seen the headlines, sure, but the vibe in the building when JJ Redick walked out for his head coaching debut was genuinely electric. People were skeptical. They had every right to be, considering he’d never coached a day of professional or collegiate ball before taking the reins of the most storied franchise in basketball history.
But then the whistle blew.
The Lakers took on the Minnesota Timberwolves, a team that basically spent all of last year bullying people in the Western Conference. If you expected the Lakers to look like the clunky, perimeter-heavy mess of the last few seasons, you were wrong. Anthony Davis didn’t just show up; he dominated. He finished the night with 36 points and 16 rebounds, looking exactly like the MVP candidate the front office keeps telling us he can be. It was a statement.
The JJ Redick Factor and the Strategic Shift
Everyone wanted to see if Redick’s "basketball genius" persona from his podcasting days would actually translate to the hardwood. It did. The Los Angeles Lakers first game showed a massive shift in how they generate looks. Instead of watching LeBron James pound the rock for 20 seconds while everyone else stood around like statues, there was movement. Constant, tiring, beautiful movement.
Austin Reaves was coming off pin-downs. Rui Hachimura was actually cutting to the rim instead of just waiting in the corner. It looked like modern basketball.
The Lakers actually took—and made—shots that didn't feel forced. Redick’s emphasis on "organizing the chaos" was visible. They ran sets. Real ones. During the second quarter, there was a specific high-horns set that freed up Davis for an easy dunk that had the bench jumping. That kind of intentionality has been missing for a long time in L.A.
Bronny and LeBron: A Moment for the History Books
We have to talk about it. Whether you think it’s a gimmick or the coolest thing ever, the Los Angeles Lakers first game featured something we will literally never see again. LeBron James and Bronny James shared the floor.
It happened with about four minutes left in the second quarter. The crowd knew it was coming. When they both checked in at the scorer's table, the noise was deafening. Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. were sitting courtside, which was a nice touch, considering they’re the only other duo to really pull off this father-son professional teammate dynamic.
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Bronny played roughly three minutes. He didn't score. He missed a trail three-pointer and had a shot blocked by Rudy Gobert—which, let’s be honest, happens to almost everyone. But the box score isn't the point here. The point is that LeBron, in his 22nd season, is still a top-15 player in the world, and he’s doing it next to his kid. It’s absurd. It defies every law of athletic aging we thought we knew.
Why This Win Against Minnesota Actually Matters
Usually, you shouldn't overreact to Game 1. It’s a long season. 82 games is a marathon, not a sprint. However, the Lakers hadn't won an opening night game since 2016. Think about that for a second. They went nearly a decade without starting 1-0.
Breaking that curse against a Timberwolves team that went to the Western Conference Finals last year is a big deal. Minnesota isn't a "gimme" win. They have Anthony Edwards, who is basically a human highlight reel, and a defensive identity that usually smothers teams.
The Lakers won because they outworked them.
- Anthony Davis played like a man possessed, anchoring a defense that held Minnesota to under 43% shooting.
- Rui Hachimura provided a physical presence that the Lakers desperately needed, finishing with 18 points.
- Jaxson Hayes gave them high-energy minutes off the bench that actually changed the momentum in the second half.
It wasn't just the LeBron show. It was a team win. That’s the nuance that people are missing when they just look at the Bronny highlights. The depth looked real for the first time in years.
Debunking the "Lakers Are Too Old" Narrative
Every offseason, the "experts" say the same thing. They’re too old. LeBron is going to hit a wall. AD can't stay healthy. While the health concerns are always a "wait and see" situation, the age factor didn't look like an issue in the Los Angeles Lakers first game.
LeBron played 35 minutes. He looked fast. He had a chase-down block that reminded everyone why he’s still nicknamed King James. But more importantly, the younger core—Reaves, Hachimura, and even Max Christie—took the physical burden off the vets.
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The Lakers played with a pace that felt sustainable. They didn't look gassed in the fourth quarter. In fact, they pulled away late, which is usually when "old" teams start to crumble. They outscored Minnesota in the paint and won the rebounding battle. You don't do that if you're "washed."
The Defensive Identity Under Redick
Defense wins championships, or so the old saying goes. Frank Vogel had it. Darvin Ham struggled with it. Redick seems to be prioritizing a "no easy buckets" mentality.
In the Los Angeles Lakers first game, they didn't over-rotate. Last year, they got burned constantly by leaving three-point shooters open because they were panicking in the paint. Against the Wolves, they stayed home. They forced Edwards into tough, contested jumpers. They made Gobert a non-factor offensively.
It’s just one game, but the defensive discipline was a night-and-day difference from the preseason. They communicated. You could hear Davis barking out assignments from the backline.
What Most People Get Wrong About Opening Night
A lot of fans think opening night is just about the rings (if you're the defending champ) or the new jerseys. It’s actually about the rotation.
In the Los Angeles Lakers first game, Redick showed his hand. He used a tight 9-man rotation. Gabe Vincent looked healthy, which is massive. If Vincent can be the point-of-attack defender he was in Miami, the Lakers' second unit becomes one of the best in the league.
People also underestimated Dalton Knecht. The rookie didn't shy away from the spotlight. He took confident shots and didn't look lost on defense. If he provides spacing, the floor opens up for LeBron and AD to operate. It’s a domino effect.
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Actionable Insights for Lakers Fans and Analysts
If you're trying to figure out if this team is for real after the Los Angeles Lakers first game, keep your eye on three specific metrics over the next ten games.
First, look at the Three-Point Attempt Rate. Redick wants them shooting more. If they drop back down to the bottom of the league in attempts, the offense will stagnate. They need to keep the pressure on the perimeter to keep the lane open for Davis.
Second, watch Anthony Davis’s usage. If he continues to be the primary focal point over LeBron, the Lakers are a top-4 seed. LeBron at this stage is the ultimate "closer" and facilitator, but AD has to be the engine.
Third, monitor the bench scoring. The Lakers' starters are elite, but they need 25-30 points from the trio of Hayes, Vincent, and Knecht every single night to compete with the depth of teams like Oklahoma City or Phoenix.
The Los Angeles Lakers first game proved that the system works. Now, they just have to prove they can do it 81 more times without the wheels falling off. The talent is there, the coaching seems inspired, and for the first time in a long time, there’s a clear plan in Tinseltown.
Stay locked into the injury reports, as that remains the only thing that can truly derail this momentum. But for now, Laker Nation can breathe a sigh of relief. The Redick era started with a win, a historic father-son moment, and a version of Anthony Davis that looks ready to wreck the league.
Watch the upcoming road trip carefully. How this team handles adversity away from home will tell us more than a single home opener ever could. Pay attention to the defensive transitions in the first six minutes of the third quarter—that’s where this team’s discipline will truly be tested.