Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick insisted that he has a good relationship with Luka Doncic despite a heated exchange between the pair going viral on social media. 

The Lakers were in the midst of a three-game losing run in the NBA ahead of facing the Golden State Warriors on Saturday, and they were comfortably leading in the first quarter. 

Doncic was replaced and tried to avoid a fist bump from Redick as he walked to his seat on the bench, and the Lakers coach then followed the Slovenian down the sideline.

The pair exchanged words as Doncic took his seat before Redick turned to walk back towards half court, only for the altercation to be continued by the six-time All-Star. 

Doncic got back to his feet and said more towards Redick while his team-mate Jarred Vanderbilt stood up to not only clap encouragement to the Lakers, but also put a barrier in front of Doncic, who sat back down moments later.

Speaking before Tuesday's 110-101 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, Redick said: "I didn't think much of it at the time, to be honest with you.

"I don't think Luka did either. He and I have a great relationship.

"I really value our relationship. And I think those things happen. Not every game, but they happen very frequently.

"And sometimes you have to rehash them with a player, or as a teammate. Sometimes it happens player to player. 

"It's a competition. And there are two guys here who, in this case, are trying to win a basketball game and be on the same page about stuff."

Led the squad pic.twitter.com/uxZPvsRIQq

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) March 4, 2026

Doncic finished the Warriors game with 26 points and eight assists, with Los Angeles winning its next game against the Sacramento Kings, with Doncic putting up 28 points. 

And the Lakers' winning streak continued against the Pelicans, with Doncic leading the way once more with 27 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. 

LeBron James added 21 points as the Lakers overturned a fourth-quarter deficit and 21 turnovers by scoring 14 straight points and finishing on a 24-7 run. 

Their late surge was led by Doncic and by Austin Reaves, the latter missing his first eight shots of the night before ending up with 15 points.

But the talk was still around Redick's interaction with Doncic. The Lakers coach was asked how he dealt with the outside noise and placed full focus on his team. 

"It just feels normal, which is probably part of the reason I wanted to coach the Lakers," Redick said with a laugh. "I was talking to Luka about it.

"We were actually laughing about it. I was like, 'I didn't feel any tension.' He was like, 'Nah, I didn't care about it.'

"You do it and you move on. I think the reality is, everybody is going to always have an opinion. Since pro sports have existed, everybody has always had an opinion.

"There's been sports talk, there's been barber shops, chat rooms. Everybody's had an opinion. Now, everybody's opinion is more easily accessible.

"It's just more amplified now, but it's normal."