JJ Redick will be Lakers’ next coach as long search ends where it started

Former NBA player and current broadcaster and podcast host JJ Redick will be the Lakers’ next coach. (Phelan M. Ebenhack / Associated Press)

The Lakers will hire JJ Redick as their next head coach according to a person with knowledge of the situation but unauthorized to speak publicly confirmed to The Times, ending a prolonged search with an aim widely believed to end at the original target.

After first offering the job to Connecticut coach Dan Hurley, a surprise candidate who turned down a six-year, $70-million deal with the Lakers on June 10, the team hosted Redick for an interview Saturday.

Redick, a former 15-year pro and current broadcaster, has no formal coaching experience.

Regarded as a bright, analytical basketball mind, Redick quickly ascended as a television analyst after his retirement in 2021. He was a pioneer in the podcasting space, one of the first active players to be a host, before continuing with a production and podcast company in retirement.

One of Redick’s podcasts, “Mind the Game,” is co-hosted by Lakers star LeBron James.

Redick is the 29th head coach for the franchise and the seventh hired since Phil Jackson left the Lakers in 2011.

Read more: Plaschke: In foolishly hiring JJ Redick, Lakers continue down the road to nowhere

Redick, Hurley and James Borrego were the only candidates to have in-person interviews, though Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka spoke with other candidates earlier in the process.

The Lakers zeroed in on Redick at the NBA draft combine, according to people with knowledge of the search not authorized to discuss it publicly.

After Hurley declined the job days following meetings with the Lakers, the search quickly re-centered on Redick, the former Duke star meeting with the team between Games 4 and 5 of the NBA Finals, a series he’s calling for ABC/ESPN.

The Lakers are expected to add a former head coach to Redick’s staff as a lead assistant to offset his lack of experience, people with knowledge of staff recruitment who were not authorized to discuss it publicly told The Times.

Redick replaces Darvin Ham, whom the team fired after two seasons as the head coach….

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/jj-redick-lakers-next-coach-191433291.html

Author : LA Times

Publish date : 2024-06-20 19:14:33

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