According to Legion Hoops on Twitter, the Los Angeles Lakers are finalizing a deal with JJ Redick to make him the new head coach. This happened a month after they fired Darvin Ham and his entire coaching staff. Redick was believed to be a frontrunner from day one, but it seems like he has the position locked up now. It will be exciting to see how he leads this lost Lakers team.
The Player to Coach Pipeline
The NBA is full of coaches who once laced up their shoes and hit the court. The list includes Rick Carlisle of the Indiana Pacers, Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors, and Doc Rivers of the Milwaukee Bucks. Every single coach listed has had a decent career so far. A shining example of a great player to coach is Kerr. He earned himself rings as a player and as a coach, leading the Golden State Warriors dynasty.
The point is that a lot of coaches do well in shifting to coaching. However, some just can’t handle the job. One example of poor coaching from a former player would be Eddie Jordan. He would spend his best coaching year with the Washington Wizards before things went downhill. His final year with the Philadelphia 76ers gave him a 27-55 record before he was swiftly fired. JJ Redick’s time with the Los Angeles Lakers could go either way. It all depends on whether his mind can make the player-to-coach switch.
Redick’s Time on The Court
Redick played 17 seasons in the NBA before retiring in 2021 after a stint with the Dallas Mavericks. He was known for solid three-point shooting and was a decent guard. At his peak he was averaging 18.1 points per game, 2.7 assists per game, and 2.4 rebounds per game. These stats were during his last year with the 76ers. After that he moved to the New Orleans Pelicans for two seasons before his final run with the Mavs.
Although he didn’t win himself a ring as a player, Redick had a solid career. He got to share the court with quite a few stars and contribute to some strong teams. His time with the New Orleans Pelicans was actually the first time that Redick wouldn’t appear in the playoffs. Thanks to his long list of experience, he has the qualifications to lead a team.
Can JJ Redick Dig The Lakers Out of Their Hole?
This was a messy season for this franchise. They managed to break into the playoffs, thanks to a play-in win. However, the Denver Nuggets handled them in a 4-1 series, sending LeBron James and the Lakers packing. Right after this loss, Darvin Ham was fired. It’s safe to say Redick will have a big job on his hands. The minute James has to take the clipboard from him, his job could be in jeopardy.
Redick should try and help the young players on the team grow. They need to strengthen the core before all of their veterans head out the door to retirement. If Redick can’t get things in line by season number two or three, I wouldn’t be shocked if the Lakers kick him to the curb as well. However, he is a friend of LeBron James, so perhaps he’ll get a grace period. He will most likely be announced as the coach for the Lakers after the NBA Finals.
About the Author
Elizabeth is an avid watcher of all things sports. However, the Boston sports teams will always be her number one. Her favorite sport to watch is basketball, but she also enjoys professional wrestling, soccer, and baseball. She also loves writing about anything ranging from sports articles to short stories and poems. She hopes to one day write her own sci-fi series and adventure series. You can find her on X @edellapiana1 to check out more content.
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