Chemistry can come from anywhere , and for the Los Angeles Lakers, it’s coming from the golf course. Head coach JJ Redick recently revealed that a surprising number of players have taken up golf over the past year, turning it into a key part of how the team connects away from the court.
“It’s funny cause when I first got in the NBA, there were a lot guys that golfed and nobody golfed for a long time. And I think post bubble, guys starting getting back into it and it became more common,” Redick said via Arash Markazi of The Sporting Tribune. “I think for our team, we have three to five guys, at least three, I think it’s five guys that this time last year never played golf before. Bronny [James], Luka [Doncic], LeBron [James], Dalton [Knecht], I think Jaxson [Hayes] started to work on his game. It’s a good team bonding thing. For our team and L.A., I talked about this in a press conference recently, it’s really hard in L.A., I played here and I know it, it’s really hard in L.A. to bond. You live in Manhattan Beach, you live in Calabasas, you live in Westside, whatever. You’re hours sometimes away from your teammates, finding tee times, being with each other for four hours where you can shoot the proverbial s-h-i, whatever and not have to be in a high pressure moment or be on a team bus and be away from the facility, I think it’s great.”
I asked JJ Redick how golf has helped the Lakers come together this season. pic.twitter.com/1rxEBS0bq9
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) March 29, 2026
That downtime has translated into something meaningful on the floor.
The Lakers are currently riding one of their best stretches in recent years, putting together a nine-game winning streak, their longest since the 2019–20 championship season. The improved rhythm has been noticeable on both ends, with better ball movement, communication, and defensive effort throughout March.
Golf, in that sense, has become more than just a hobby. It’s turned into a shared space where stars and role players can connect without the pressure of game situations, media scrutiny, or packed arenas.
With the Western Conference tightening and the playoffs approaching, that connection could be critical.
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