JJ Redick’s ‘mindset’ as he takes Lakers job

The Los Angeles Lakers have reached a four-year agreement with JJ Redick, appointing the 39-year-old former NBA player as the team’s new head coach, according to team sources on Thursday.

Seven weeks after dismissing Darvin Ham, the Lakers chose Redick, a 15-year NBA veteran who moved on to podcasting and broadcasting.

Sources indicated that Redick met with Rob Pelinka and owner Jeanie Buss over the weekend, with discussions about the coaching vacancy continuing throughout the week. Pelinka extended the job offer to Redick on Thursday morning.

The contract is reportedly worth around $8 million per season, according to sources familiar with the deal. Pelinka was convinced of Redick’s ability to connect with players and his high basketball IQ. He believes that by surrounding Redick with an elite coaching staff, it will help expedite his transition into his first coaching role, sources said.

JJ Redick was always in the Lakers radar

Redick emerged as the leading candidate for the Lakers’ head coaching position a week ago after Connecticut coach Dan Hurley declined their offer. Despite Redick being considered the favorite for most of the search, which began in May following Darvin Ham’s firing, Hurley temporarily became a prime contender.

The Lakers and Hurley showed mutual interest, with Hurley even interviewing in Los Angeles. However, he turned down the Lakers’ six-year, $70 million offer last week, according to team and league sources.

After Hurley turned down the offer, the focus of the search shifted back to Redick, who met with the Lakers between Games 4 and 5 of the NBA Finals, which he was covering for ABC/ESPN.

Redick, Hurley, and James Borrego were the only candidates who received in-person interviews, although Pelinka had spoken with other candidates earlier in the process.

Developing the Lakers’ young core

Pelinka is looking for a teaching coach and staff who will prioritize developing young talents like Max Christie, Austin Reaves, and Rui Hachimura.

Additionally, he wants a team that can create innovative strategies to maximize Anthony Davis’s impact on both ends of the court.

The Lakers are anticipated to bring on a former head coach as a lead assistant to Redick, according to sources familiar with the staff recruitment. Scott Brooks, who previously coached the Oklahoma City Thunder and Washington Wizards, is one of the names associated with the Lakers.

The Times had previously mentioned the Lakers’ interest in former player Rajon Rondo and current Dallas assistant Jared Dudley for coaching roles. However, Dudley is a key part of Jason Kidd’s staff with the Mavericks, who recently made a Finals appearance.

Redick’s road to his first NBA head coaching job

JJ Redick, known for his sharp and analytical basketball insights, swiftly rose to prominence as a television analyst following his retirement in 2021. He was a trailblazer in the podcasting arena, becoming one of the first active players to host a podcast. In retirement, he continued his involvement in the media by running a production and podcast company.

Redick recently served as a broadcaster for the NBA Finals, which concluded on Monday with the Boston Celtics defeating the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5. One of Redick’s podcasts, “Mind the Game,” is co-hosted by Lakers star LeBron James.

Simultaneously, he pursued a head coaching role, interviewing for the Toronto Raptors’ top coaching position in 2023 and the Charlotte Hornets’ position this year. It’s worth noting that Redick has no prior professional coaching experience, aside from coaching his son’s youth basketball team.

He becomes the 29th head coach in franchise history and the seventh to take the helm since Phil Jackson’s departure in 2011.