JJ Redick believes that the Los Angeles Lakers are at the top of every team's list of who they would want to come up against in the NBA playoffs given their notable absentees.

Redick's comments came after the Lakers' 101-73 win over the Phoenix Suns, a result that ensured Los Angeles had home-court advantage in the first round of the postseason.

LeBron James had 28 points, 12 assists and six rebounds while Luke Kennard and Rui Hachimura chipped in with 19 and 13 points, respectively, to seal an impressive victory. 

The Lakers improved their record to 52-59 for the season and are one game behind third-placed Denver (53-28), but Los Angeles holds the tiebreak over the Nuggets.

However, with both Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves out for the season through injury, Redick acknowledged that his team were not the frightening force they previously were. 

"I'm sure everybody wants to play us," Redick said. "Let's get that out there, like, everybody wants to play us."

Lakers guard Kennard said he is fine with the Lakers being overlooked, though, adding: "I guess you understand why people are saying that.

"You're missing 60 points a game, and yeah, it's definitely out there, and I'm sure people are thinking about that and what we're missing.

"But we also have [LeBron James], and the way he's been playing and leading us has been incredible, and obviously, we're going to need him to continue to do that."

One more regular-season game to go pic.twitter.com/Gw7gBEOWD8

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) April 11, 2026

And James more than stepped up with his display. He recorded the 12,000th assist of his career in the first half, becoming only the fourth NBA player to reach the milestone.

The 41-year-old racked up 14 points in the first quarter, and he added six points and seven assists in the second half while making sure the Lakers' lead stayed firm.

James has averaged 28 points on 60% shooting (46.2% from 3), 12.7 assists and 7.7 rebounds in his past three games since Doncic and Reaves were sidelined. 

"I had to tap back into a role that I'd been accustomed to in the past, but obviously, it wasn't what it was this year," James said. "But circumstances have put me back in there. 

"I'm just trying to feed off my team-mates, teammates are feeding off of me and just trying to make things happen for us to continue to stay afloat."

The Lakers close out their schedule at home to the Utah Jazz, and should they beat them and the Nuggets lose to the San Antonio Spurs in their season finale, Los Angeles will seal the number three seed and host the Minnesota Timberwolves. 

If Redick's team and Denver win, Los Angeles will be the fourth seed and host Houston, and the Los Angeles coach put his team's spot into perspective.

"Every year I've ever been in the NBA, your goal is to win a championship," Redick said. "That's your goal.

"When you represent the Lakers and you play for the Lakers and you coach the Lakers, that's their goal every year. That's our fans' goal every year.

"Let's not discredit what this group did for the regular season, regardless of what happens in the playoffs.

"Because to clinch home court and to win 52 games, possibly 53 games, deal with the amount of adversity we had. It's a credit to our players.

"It's a credit to our staff for just persevering and just keeping our head down and doing the work."