Report: J.J. Redick Emerging As Serious Candidate For Lakers Job
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 02: ESPN analyst JJ Redick looks on prior to the game between the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
JJ Redick could reportedly be a name to monitor in the Los Angeles Lakers' head coaching search.
NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski said Saturday that the Lakers are examining his ESPN coworker as they ramp up the process to replace the recently fired Darvin Ham.
“One name that the Lakers have been drilling down on in their initial research here: JJ Redick," Wojnarowski said on NBA Countdown. "He is certainly somebody that the Lakers are intrigued with. They’ve been making a lot of calls to try to learn more about him, but expect this to be a wide-ranging and lengthy search."
Redick's coaching experience is limited to his son's youth basketball league. Yet the former sharp-shooter has surfaced as a more legitimate candidate for an NBA job.
Since retiring in 2021, Redick has emerged as a rising sports media star. He'll call NBA Finals games alongside Mike Breen and Doris Burke.
Redick also recently launched a new podcast, Mind The Game, with Lakers star LeBron James. The duo conduct in-depth conversations on the game's intricacies.
That connection to LeBron, who can opt out of his contract this offseason, sparked speculation of the Lakers considering Redick. If he lands the job, Redick would join the likes of Steve Kerr, Mark Jackson, Jason Kidd, Derek Fisher, and Steve Nash among ex-players who received an NBA head coaching gig without prior college or professional coaching experience.
According to Wojnarowski, the Lakers are also expected to begin requesting permission to interview NBA assistants for their vacant role.
