Los Angeles Lakers Hire JJ Redick as Next Head Coach
When one door closes, another opens. LA recently made a move for a college hoops proven champion for their HC vacancy, but unfortunately things did not pan out. Now the iconic NBA franchise is moving in a completely different direction. The Los Angeles Lakers hire JJ Redick as their next head coach.
This hiring is among one of the many tasks the organization faces in accomplishing before the start of the 2024-2025 season. The Lakers are in “win now” mode. Their last full season championship was back in 2010. Therefore, they would love nothing more than to finally bring an end to the now decade plus drought.
To accomplish this goal they are seeking to assemble the right and best pieces. Which is why hiring Redick, at first glance, comes across a bit risky. He has no prior experience in coaching. However, his career as a NBA player could possibly translate well into this new position. He’s not the first to give it a try (think Larry Bird, Steve Kerr (4 championships), Steve Nash, Derek Fisher, Jason Kidd and Doc Rivers who has a championship with the Celtics). Nevertheless, let’s still quickly dive into his “resume.”
Redick is a former first round pick. Selected 11th overall by the Orlando Magic back in 2006. Playing professionally for 15 seasons. A tenure lasting from 2006 to 2021. Which includes time with not just the Magic (7 years) but the Los Angeles Clippers, the Philadelphia 76ers, the New Orleans Pelicans, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Dallas Mavericks.
Such longevity could be extremely valuable to the Lakers. Especially, when it comes to being on the same page and understanding as veteran Lebron James. Who will be entering his 22nd season (which will tie Vince Carter who played for 22 seasons as well).
There’s been some talk and discussions about Lebron and his relationship with past coaches. And there is a common theme. Many don’t last. As CBS sports reported:
“LeBron has had eight full-time head coaches in his career. Only two — Erik Spoelstra and Ty Lue– weren’t let go on his watch (five coaches were fired and Luke Walton “mutually parted ways” with the Lakers in 2019 before taking the Kings job). And even those two cases require some caveats.
With Lue, remember, he stepped into the fold after the guy he was the top assistant coach to, David Blatt, got fired despite having a 30-11 record — 30-11! — at the time of his dismissal in 2016.
That team then went on to win an NBA Championship.
It’s also worth noting that … Lue and Spo both won titles with LeBron.”
So then, if JJ can get the Lebron stamp of approval and blessing of the whole team. Thus, having control of the locker room. Could be a fit. And could lead to a good working relationship and title.
Fortunately, in this case Redick does have a STRONG head start. Though LeBron James reportedly stays out of the Lakers’ hiring process, James does have a relationship with Redick through the podcast they have co-hosted since March, “Mind the Game.”
Los Angeles Lakers Hire JJ Redick as Next Head Coach
Additionally, JJ Redick in his playing days was known as one of the league’s top 3-point shooters, hitting 41.5% of his career attempts. For the Lakers this could be a very good little hidden gem. During the 2023-2024 season the Lakers struggled with 3-point attempts per game. In fact Chris Herring did some deep analysis and discovered,
“Only the Detroit Pistons — yes, the team that just tied the NBA record for infamy with 28 consecutive defeats — are making fewer three-pointers per game (10.5) than the Lakers(10.8). Even with the additions of forwards Taurean Prince and Christian Wood, the Lakers generate the NBA’s second fewest wide-open attempts from deep each game.”
Now, in 24’ we did see D’Angelo Russell become the Lakers franchise leader in 3-pointers made in a single season. However, you need more than one guy shooting cannons from deep. So then, could JJ help fix this aspect of the Lakers game? Well, with his past history he would certainly be qualified try.
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