Los Angeles Lakers officially unveil JJ Redick: 5 major highlights from the press conference”
The Los Angeles Lakers now have a new head coach. They recently held an introductory press conference for JJ Redick, shortly after it was announced that the former NBA player would be taking on the role.
The Lakers embarked on an extensive search to find a new head coach to replace the dismissed Darvin Ham. UConn head coach Dan Hurley declined the position earlier in the process, choosing to stay with the Huskies, which then made it clear that JJ Redick was the leading candidate to succeed Ham.
Interestingly, Redick has no prior coaching experience at any level. Although his 15-season NBA career is valuable, there will be a significant learning curve for him. Coaching a Lakers team with championship ambitions will undoubtedly add pressure on Redick. Whether he can meet these expectations remains to be seen, but his introductory press conference in Southern California was certainly dynamic.
Dan Hurley is a two-time national champion at UConn. “I am a two-time 55 Swish League Champion in the 3rd and 4th grade division. I understood,” Redick told reporters, referencing the Lakers’ previous interest in Hurley. Clearly, Redick isn’t too upset about being their “second choice.”
During the press conference, Redick also mentioned that his days as LeBron James’ co-host on a podcast are over. “For the time being, and hopefully it’s a very, very long time, I am excommunicated from the content space. There will be no podcasts,” Redick stated.
Interestingly, Redick shared that he had no discussions with James about the head coach opening. He noted that James did not want to be involved in the Lakers’ search for a new head coach, aligning with a previous report indicating that James wanted the organization to focus on what was best for the long term, even after his retirement. It’s worth noting that James can opt out of his contract and enter NBA free agency.
“I have never coached in the NBA before. I don’t know if you guys have heard that. The expectation is a championship. That’s what I signed up for,” Redick stated. Transitioning from having no coaching experience to leading a high-profile NBA team in the second-largest media market in North America will bring significant pressure. However, Redick seems ready for the challenge.
When asked if he was looking to disprove misconceptions about him as an NBA head coach, Redick’s response was candid. “It has been a really interesting six weeks or so, just in terms of being a part of the engagement farming industry,” he said. “However, I don’t really have a great answer for your question, because I really don’t give a f***. Honestly, I want to coach the Lakers. I want to coach the team. I don’t want to dispel anything. I want to become a great coach in the NBA. And I want to win championships. And I want my players to maximize their careers. That’s all I f***ing care about.”
We are certainly in for an exciting time in Southern California with Redick at the helm. For now, the focus is on what the Lakers will do this summer to build a more talented roster around James (if he returns) and Anthony Davis.
