Magic Johnson once swapped his gym shorts for a coach’s clipboard. Back in 1994, he took on the role of head coach for the Lakers without any prior experience. His stint, however, only lasted 16 games.
Now, JJ Redick is about to start his own coaching journey. Johnson shared on X that he’s "cautiously optimistic" about Redick’s chances of success. He hopes Redick will have better luck than many others who struggled with the transition from player to coach.
Johnson thinks Redick’s success depends on bringing the same "mental and physical toughness" that made him a standout at Duke and a solid NBA player for 15 years .
Magic’s Thoughts:
"I’m cautiously optimistic that this new hire is a success for both the Lakers and JJ Reddick. I enjoyed watching him as a player – great 3-point shooting, high basketball IQ, passion for the game, and mental and physical toughness. If he can bring how he played professionally to…"
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson)
In another post, Johnson urged Rob Pelinka’s front office to make big roster changes this offseason to stay competitive in the tough Western Conference.
"Naming a head coach was just the first step. Even bigger than naming JJ Reddick as the Head Coach, Rob Pelinka’s next step must be to improve the roster if we are going to compete against all the powerhouse teams in the West like the Nuggets, Timberwolves, Mavericks, Suns,…"
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson)
The Lakers will get their chance during the NBA Draft with picks No. 17 and No. 56 in two rounds. Insiders think they might trade players like Rui Hachimura or Austin Reaves—and maybe even D’Angelo Russell (sign-and-trade)—to get a third star alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Fans might wonder if these moves will really make a difference.
What do you think? Will these changes help or hurt their chances next season?
