The Los Angeles Lakers named JJ Redick as coach, the crew introduced Monday. Redick, the twenty ninth coach in franchise historical past, was formally launched at a information convention Monday afternoon.
Redick, who turned 40 on Monday, made it clear that he’s embracing the stress, highlight and championship expectations of teaching the Lakers.
“Sitting on this seat, I do know what the expectations are,” Redick mentioned. “Lakers followers have a few of the most passionate followers world wide. And the expectation is a championship. And so it’s my job, it’s our employees’s job, it’s (basic supervisor Rob Pelinka’s) job, it’s all of us, to ship a championship-caliber crew. That’s what I signed up for.”
Redick brazenly acknowledged his lack of NBA teaching expertise a number of occasions — he’s by no means coached above the youth stage — and famous that that doesn’t imply he isn’t certified to take the teaching leap.
“I’ve zero teaching expertise within the NBA,” Redick mentioned. “However I’d argue that I’m very skilled. And it began 22 years in the past after I went to Duke and I acquired to play for Coach Okay for 4 years, spent 15 years as a participant. Actually, the final three years have been invaluable in getting ready me for this second.
“With the ability to connect with gamers, speaking to them on the podcast, being in teaching interviews with ESPN, calling video games, analyzing the sport in three totally different codecs. All of that has helped put together me to be an NBA head coach.”
OFFICIAL: JJ Redick, Head Coach, Los Angeles Lakers. pic.twitter.com/uDKV6sJIct
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) June 24, 2024
Pelinka, additionally the Lakers vp of basketball operations, mentioned the crew needed an out-of-the-box rent and an progressive, adaptable basketball thoughts who would develop with the franchise for years to return.
“Shortly in our conversations with JJ, it was very evident that he had a novel perspective and philosophy on basketball and the way it’s to be taught,” Pelinka mentioned. “We shared a basketball philosophy that was very comparable. And it was based mostly on a high-level technique. It was based mostly on a sure manner of speaking with gamers and educating them. And doubtless most significantly, prioritizing participant improvement.”
Regardless of the Lakers’ public pursuit of UConn coach Dan Hurley, Pelinka famous that Redick was all the time among the many Lakers’ “Plan A pool of coaches” and the 2 maintained sturdy communication all through the method.
Redick clarified that he wasn’t bothered by the Lakers’ try at Hurley, recognizing the huge distinction of their teaching expertise and resumes.
“Throughout that complete four-day interval, at no level was my ego or emotions damage or bruised in any manner,” Redick mentioned. “Dan Hurley is a two-time nationwide champion at UConn. I’m a two-time 55 Swish League champion within the Third- and 4th-grade division. Like, I understood, you already know? I understood.”
Redick, who was probably the most forward-facing of the Lakers’ teaching candidates given each his high-profile taking part in and media profession, mentioned he’ll not be podcasting now that he’s a coach. He additionally mentioned that he and LeBron James, who have been co-hosts on the latest “Thoughts the Recreation” podcast, didn’t talk throughout the interview course of. Redick added that James referred to as him half-hour after he was provided the place and the 2 spoke on the cellphone for 15 to twenty minutes.
Pelinka shared that James was “supportive” of the rent however largely stayed out of the decision-making. Anthony Davis, in the meantime, was extra concerned and a supporter of Redick, in response to Pelinka. Davis and Redick spoke on the cellphone about crew technique for subsequent season, as The Athletic reported final week.
“LeBron was very supportive of us in our course of, however selected to not be closely concerned,” Pelinka mentioned. “And we revered that. Anthony Davis, our different captain selected to be very concerned and was very concerned. I talked to him all through the method and acquired lots of assist and knowledge from him. And he was very excited for at this time.”
GO DEEPER
Contained in the Lakers’ resolution to rent JJ Redick and the way he shapes their future
Pelinka and Redick’s partnership will instantly be examined with the NBA Draft on Wednesday and Thursday and free company opening on Sunday. Pelinka hinted that the crew goes to be aggressive in searching for potential upgrades within the commerce market — the Lakers could have entry to their three tradeable first-round picks on Wednesday — however admitted it could possibly be troublesome contemplating the monetary limitations with the NBA’s collective bargaining settlement for groups above the primary apron, which the Lakers undertaking to be above.
“JJ hit it on the top when he mentioned our purpose is to construct a crew that competes for championships,” Pelinka mentioned. “Whether or not that’s within the brief time period or the long run, we all the time need to stability these two issues. I do suppose on this system, as I opened, a few of the trades are harder, particularly when you’ve got a second apron crew and a primary apron crew. There’s an opportunity we’ll be within the first apron. The trades are much less prevalent than they was.
“So will we search for trades that assist us turn out to be a greater crew? Completely. Are these trades, did they’ve the identical likelihood that they did below the outdated system? No, it’s a totally different system. So we’ve acquired to be conscious and considerate round that.”
Lakers gamers in attendance included Gabe Vincent, Christian Wooden, Spencer Dinwiddie, Maxwell Lewis and two-way heart Colin Castleton.
The Lakers and Redick agreed to a four-year deal, crew sources mentioned Thursday. The contract is within the neighborhood of $8 million per season, in response to sources briefed on the deal.
Redick was thought of the front-runner in league circles for a lot of the teaching search, which was ongoing since Los Angeles fired Darvin Ham in Might after two seasons.
Redick spent 15 seasons within the NBA with six groups, most notably the Orlando Magic and LA Clippers. A famend shooter, he posted a profession common of 12.8 factors per recreation with 41.5 % 3-point capturing, 44.7 % from the sector and 89.2 % from the free-throw line.
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(Photograph: Maddie Meyer / Getty Photos)
