JJ Redick is popping within the headset for a clipboard, as he is reportedly becoming a member of the Los Angeles Lakers as their new head coach.
Redick has agreed to a four-year cope with the Lakers after GM Rob Pelinka supplied him the job Thursday morning, in keeping with ESPN.
Redick has by no means been a coach within the NBA, however the 39-year-old performed 15 seasons with six totally different franchises from 2006-21.
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Redick, who had been working with ESPN as an NBA analyst, together with for the community’s NBA Finals broadcast, reportedly offered Pelinka on his capacity to “join with gamers and his basketball IQ.”
“[Pelinka] believes surrounding him with an elite teaching employees will assist to shorten the training curve into his first teaching job,” ESPN reported.
While Redick was a reputation that was introduced up as a transparent candidate for the emptiness following the dismissal of Darvin Ham after two seasons, he wasn’t the primary selection.
UCONN’S DAN HURLEY CLARIFIES DECISION TO REJECT LAKERS’ COACHING JOB: ‘I ALREADY HAD THE LEVERAGE’
The Lakers tried to lure Connecticut Huskies head coach Dan Hurley out of faculty basketball, however he turned down a profitable six-year deal from the Lakers to stay in place after profitable back-to-back nationwide titles. Hurley later mentioned he already agreed to phrases on a brand new cope with UConn earlier than he declined Los Angeles’ provide sheet.
“One of the worst takes I’ve heard is that it is a leverage play by me to enhance my scenario at UConn,” the Huskies coach mentioned throughout a current look on “The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz.”
Former Magic guard JJ Redick leaves the court docket after being honored by the workforce throughout the New York Knicks recreation, Feb. 14, 2024, in Orlando. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)
Redick just lately had a proper interview with the Lakers, and that assembly was clearly all of the entrance workplace wanted to need to consider, regardless of his lack of teaching expertise, he can lead this workforce subsequent season.
And whereas Redick can actually join with each participant on the roster, there’s one particularly that he has sturdy chemistry with already: LeBron James.
The NBA’s all-time main scorer and Redick co-host a podcast collectively, “Mind the Game,” the place they dive deep into the technicalities of basketball, utilizing their very own experiences on the court docket to provide an enormous X’s and O’s perspective on NBA play.
It’s on that podcast the place NBA followers have seen Redick’s basketball IQ come to life, in addition to his broadcasting for ESPN this previous season.
It’s unknown what teaching veterans Pelinka and the Lakers count on to herald to construct out Redick’s first employees, however they’re assured in giving him a shot to show he generally is a profitable first-time head coach.
JJ Redick earlier than the NBA Finals recreation between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden on June 9, 2024, in Boston. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
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Redick, a first-round select of Duke by the Orlando Magic within the 2006 NBA Draft, averaged 12.8 factors per recreation over his 15 seasons. He was a powerful sharpshooter, averaging 41.5% from past the arc in his profession and 44.7% total from the sphere.
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