JJ Redick has officially joined the Lakers as their new head coach, marking his entry into NBA coaching.
At his introductory press conference, Redick immediately acknowledged his lack of coaching experience. "I have never coached in the NBA before," he admitted with a hint of humor. "I don’t know if you guys have heard that."
Redick’s Basketball Journey
Turning 40 on his first day as a coach, JJ retired from playing in 2021 after a 15-year career. He shined at Duke University and was drafted by the Orlando Magic in 2006. Over time, he became one of the top three-point shooters in NBA history.
"This job was about the Lakers… and it was about LeBron James and Anthony Davis, two of the greatest players ever… I’ve gotten to do some amazing stuff in my life… this might be the best."
Even after retiring, Redick stayed close to basketball through media roles at ESPN and ABC and hosted a podcast called Mind the Game with LeBron James.
Support from Rob Pelinka
Rob Pelinka, Lakers’ VP of basketball operations, stood by Redick during his introduction. He emphasized that previous head-coaching experience isn’t everything. “NBA head-coaching experience and NBA experience aren’t mutually exclusive things,” Pelinka said, highlighting JJ’s fresh perspective on coaching.
Pelinka added that they wanted someone who could bring something different to the table. “In our conversations with JJ, it was very evident that he had a unique perspective and philosophy on basketball.”
The Coaching Offer
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Redick signed a four-year deal last week after UConn’s Dan Hurley declined an offer from the Lakers. Reflecting on this situation humorously, JJ said: “Dan Hurley is a two-time national champion at UConn. I am a two-time 55 Swish League champion in third- and fourth-grade division.”
Fans think it’s cool how humble JJ is despite everything he’s achieved.
Rick Carlisle’s Influence
Redick credited Rick Carlisle for sparking his interest in coaching while training him in Dallas. But it wasn’t until Toronto interviewed him for a coaching role last year that he seriously considered it.
“After interviewing for Toronto’s job last year,” Redick shared, “I knew I wanted to be an NBA head coach.” Since then, he spent time learning from various coaches and GMs to prepare for this new role.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0LMI4ib35M
Podcast Pause
JJ’s podcast with LeBron will take a backseat now that he’s focusing solely on coaching. LeBron has kept some distance during this transition period but remains supportive.
“For now—and hopefully for a very long time—I’m stepping away from content creation,” assured Redick. “No more podcasts… I’m fully committed to winning titles here.”
