The Lakers’ potential gamble on JJ Redick, plus a 16-year-old’s stunning USWNT debut https://t.co/2zXscCbtjD
— LakerTom (@LakerTom) June 5, 2024
Big Bets: JJ Redick, LeBron James and a career wager
LeBron James is the most accomplished basketball player to ever play in the NBA. No one has ever been as consistently great as James, and absolutely not for as long as him. If he were to retire tomorrow, he would own the most impressive career in league history.
James is not retiring at 39 though, and plans to play at least another year or two. His current team, the Lakers, has a job opening at head coach. Is this the time to take a chance on your next coach or to hire a coach with bona fides to maximize James’ title opportunity?
The Lakers are, according to a report from The Athletic’s Shams Charania, close to picking the former. And it’d be a massive gamble:
The team is “zeroing in” on JJ Redick as its top head coaching candidate, per our report. Redick is a former NBA sharpshooter turned media star who owns a podcast network and sits alongside Mike Breen and Doris Burke on ESPN’s top NBA broadcasting team. He also happens to co-host a podcast about hoops tactics with … LeBron.
Listen to Redick speak in any forum, and his basketball intellect is clear. That is not the question here. It’s mostly that Redick has never coached above the youth level. Not in the NBA, college or even high school, though he’s had opportunities as an assistant. Of note: Redick’s college coach, Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski, is heavily assisting the Lakers’ search.
It’s jarring to me that the Lakers might spend James’ likely last two seasons with a brand-new coach. Even the best coaches don’t win right away. Though James still plays at a superstar level, he turns 40 in December. Are we wasting his last chances on someone who needs seasoning?
The Lakers, for what it’s worth, are “infatuated” with Redick and envision him as a long-term Pat Riley type on the sideline. That’s the best-case scenario. And the league has seen first-year head coaches win titles in their debut seasons (including Riley, though he’d first been a Lakers assistant coach), but none with Redick’s resume. The best comparison is Steve Kerr, though he’d spent three years as the Suns’ GM before coaching the Warriors.
I find it fascinating how half the world thinks the Lakers are crazy and half think they are geniuses. The Lakers are lucky that JJ Redick is available and wants this job. Other than JJ, the head coaching candidates are not especially exciting.
I also disagree with those who say assistant coaching experience of general manager experience are essential. JJ knows the game, has a brilliant basketball mind, is a tireless hard worker, and great communicator. He has the charisma and BBIQ to be a great head coach imo. Hiring him is the biggest move the Lakers have made since signing LeBron James and trading for Anthony Davis.