The Los Angeles Lakers made headlines this week by naming JJ Redick as their new head coach. Despite lacking prior coaching experience, Redick’s extensive basketball knowledge, hosting multiple NBA podcasts, and serving as an ESPN commentator for the NBA Finals have prepared him for this role.
Redick ended his playing career with the Dallas Mavericks, joining the team via trade at the 2021 trade deadline before retiring due to a sore Achilles tendon. According to Redick, his brief time in Dallas sparked his interest in coaching.
“It was really when I was in Dallas at the end of my career,” Redick explained at his introductory press conference. “I was hurt for most of those two and a half months… (then Mavericks head coach) Rick Carlisle and I spent a lot of time together, and he really planted the seed about coaching.”
After that season, Carlisle returned to the Indiana Pacers, but his influence as one of the great coaching minds of the past 20 years, who led Dallas to its only championship in 2011, left a lasting impact on Redick. Known for sometimes clashing with cerebral guards like Rajon Rondo, Carlisle valued intelligent basketball players, and Redick, who showcased his knowledge through his “Mind The Game” podcast with LeBron James, fit this mold perfectly.
Redick, one of the NBA’s best shooters with a career 41.5% three-point shooting percentage, has embraced analytics and data in his analysis, proving his aptitude for coaching. His transition mirrors those of former players like Jason Kidd and Derek Fisher, who became head coaches immediately after their playing careers with mixed results. Kidd, however, has found success a decade post-retirement.
Redick’s first head coaching job with the Lakers, one of the NBA’s most iconic franchises, brings immense pressure. Should LeBron James return alongside Anthony Davis, Redick will have two superstars to work with. However, the Lakers were particularly impressed with his commitment to player development and his focus on nurturing young talent like Jalen Hood-Schifino.
Redick’s unexpected journey from Mavericks player to Lakers head coach underscores his deep understanding of the game and potential to thrive in this new role.