“This is what Lebron wants” – Nick Wright outlines major downside of Lakers hiring JJ Redick as coach
The LA Lakers have finally found a replacement for Darvin Ham after they reportedly hired JJ Redick as their newest coach. While Redick has been a frontrunner to land the job for a while, many think this isn’t the right move considering that he doesn’t have coaching experience.
One of the people skeptical of Redick’s hiring is analyst Nick Wright, who shared his skepticism on “First Things First” on Thursday:
“He is being hired with … as thin of a coaching resume as any coach that’s ever taken the job in modern NBA history, because it couldn’t be thinner.”
He then discussed Redick’s lack of coaching experience, whether as an assistant both outside and within the NBA, G League, college or high school.
“My biggest concern with JJ, honestly, is he appears to me to be very, very online and very, very aware of criticism of himself, and I think that can be a real detriment if you’re the head coach of a basketball team in L.A.,” Wright said. “Head coach of the Lakers, I should say, more than anything.”
Wright also addressed the prior connection between LeBron James and JJ Redick, the connection that many point to as the reason why Redick landed the position, that they are co-hosts of the “Mind the Game” podcast.
“This idea that they are doing this to appease LeBron assumes this is what LeBron wants. … I just think people are assuming because Bron likes JJ, doing the podcast with him, that he likes the idea of having to play for him,” Wright said. “I don’t know if that is or isn’t true.”
JJ Redick had a 15-year NBA career, but he hasn’t been that far removed from his playing days. He retired in 2021 and since then has worked as an ESPN analyst and a podcast host.
While he has displayed great knowledge in his endeavors after retiring from playing, he has yet to show what he can do as a coach.
Who are the other candidates JJ Redick beat for the Lakers’ coaching position?
Had Dan Hurley opted to make the jump to the NBA instead of remaining at UConn, it’s fair to assume that JJ Redick would not be the newest Lakers coach. As such, Hurley doesn’t count as one of the candidates that Redick beat.
However, the 15-year NBA veteran beat James Borrego, who was an assistant coach for the New Orleans Pelicans, Orlando Magic and the San Antonio Spurs. Borrego was also the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets from 2018-22, going 138-163.
Before Redick’s hiring, Kenny Atkinson and Sam Cassell were also named as possible replacements for Darvin Ham. Another name that came up was Monty Williams, who was fired as the Detroit Pistons coach on Wednesday.
