Speaking to Bill Simmons on his The Ringer podcast, New Orleans Pelicans veteran JJ Redick has claimed that star forward LeBron James and his Los Angeles Lakers teammates have been secretly scrimmaging in a Bel-Air mansion.

Via SB Nation's Silver Screen & Roll:

Bill Simmons: Have you heard, there’s this L.A. rumor right now and I haven’t been able to crack it, of all the Lakers are playing at some rich guy’s house. And it’s all like ‘nobody talk about this,’ but have you heard about different rumors, and what teams are doing, and all that? Are you expecting people to show up (to Orlando) out of shape? What do you think?

JJ Redick: All right, so in regards to the Lakers, I’ve heard similar things. Obviously nothing has been posted on social media providing us with the evidence that we need, but there is a gentleman, I think his house is in Bel-Air, who has a Staples Center replica in his backyard. It’s a full court, locker rooms, weight rooms, steam shower, whatever you want. I’ve worked out there before. My assumption is those guys are working out there, that would make a lot of sense.

LeBron James and the Lakers possessed the best record in the Western Conference when the NBA suspended league operations during the onset of the coronavirus pandemic last March. The season is set to resume on July 30 in Orlando, Florida, but only 22 teams will converge — including New Orleans and Los Angeles.

In May, it was reported that James was spearheading practices with teammates in a “safe, private on-court” environment. Meanwhile, according to Harrison Faigen of Silver Screen & Roll, the gentleman Redick is referring to is Lakers superfan and LA Gear CEO Steven Jackson, who owns a home that has a replica Staples Center court and other state-of-the-art facilities for the players.

In the next week or so, players and teams will officially start to get together, as the NBA anticipates resuming the 2019-20 season in a “bubble” setting at Walt Disney World.