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Former Magic guard JJ Redick, right, and official Gediminas Petraitis greet each other on the court during a game in Orlando. (Phelan M. Ebenhack / Associated Press)
JJ Redick?
Seriously?
The Los Angeles LeBrons appear to be closing in on the landmark hire of a bench boss who possesses but one legitimate qualification.
JJ Redick could be the next Lakers head coach because he has a podcast with LeBron James.
Period. End of resume.
Redick has never been a coach at any level above elementary school. He’s never been a head coach or assistant coach or college coach or even a high school coach.
Read more: Latest Lakers intel: Sources view JJ Redick as a leading coaching candidate
He’s never overseen a practice. He’s never worked the sidelines. He’s never had that responsibility. He’s never dealt with that pressure.
I’ve coached or assisted in as many NBA games as JJ Redick, and he’s going to run the Lakers?
Seriously?
This would not only be one of the oddest Lakers coaching hires in a long list of them — remember that glorious moment when Pat Riley and Jerry West both coached the team? — but it might also be the first talk-show driven head coaching hire in NBA history.
Redick would be hired simply because he is James’ wingman. He would be named head honcho simply because he is a great co-host.
The Lakers would be morphing from basketball team to buddy movie.
Their expected choice of Redick — virtually every expert considers him the heavy favorite — makes less sense with every syllable.
Granted, the recently debuted podcast, “Mind the Game,” is great, bordering on brilliant. It’s a master class in basketball strategy, filled with inside hoops chatter that reveals a deep respect between its two talking heads.
Former NBA guard JJ Redick, center, and his wife, Chelsea Kilgore, watch from courtside seats during a game in Orlando. (Phelan M. Ebenhack / Associated Press)
James likes chopping up strategy with Redick. James clearly thinks like Redick. They are so connected, it’s not difficult to imagine James believing he could essentially be a co-coach with Redick.
The Lakers certainly seem to be imagining…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/plaschke-lakers-jj-redick-match-110020519.html
Author : LA Times
Publish date : 2024-05-19 11:00:20
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