If the Lakers had been to rent a coach tomorrow, it could be JJ Redick, in line with ESPN and Stadium.
Redick and New Orleans Pelicans affiliate head coach James Borrego had been beforehand reported to be the main candidates to exchange Darvin Ham as head coach of the Lakers, however Los Angeles hasn’t accomplished its interview course of, in line with The Athletic.
Even so, the present chief within the clubhouse is Redick. The Athletic’s sources have stated that the Lakers are “zeroing in” on Redick, 39, and that he’s thought-about “the front-runner.”
A former Duke 3-point marksman who spent 15 years within the NBA, Redick is employed by ESPN in a broadcasting function and launched a podcast with Lakers ahead LeBron James, “Thoughts the Recreation.”
He additionally interviewed with the Hornets to turn into a first-time head coach and was within the operating to exchange Nick Nurse with the Toronto Raptors final summer season.
Redick, who will probably be overlaying the NBA Finals for ESPN over the approaching days, has a historical past enjoying below former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, who has been an “unofficial” useful resource for the Lakers through the hiring course of.
The Lakers aren’t afraid to show to former gamers as coaches and may level to the sturdy success of NBA Finals head coaches Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics and Jason Kidd of the Mavericks — to not point out Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors — as latest examples that might align with the Redick transfer.
Mazzulla, 35, was promoted earlier than final season to go coach of the Celtics with out earlier expertise within the function. He tried to rent Redick as an assistant coach. As a participant at West Virginia, Mazzulla led an upset of Duke within the 2008 NCAA Match two years after Redick was drafted by the Orlando Magic.
The Athletic reported on the finish of the common season that Lakers’ decision-makers seen Redick as a “Pat Riley-like teaching” candidate.
Los Angeles fired Darvin Ham, 50, after two seasons together with an look within the Western Convention finals in 2023.
Ham posted a 90-74 report however was 9-12 within the playoffs since changing Frank Vogel in 2022. — Discipline Degree Media/Reuters
