The Los Angeles Lakers have reportedly hired JJ Redick as the team’s new head coach, agreeing to a four-year contract despite his inexperience.
Redick, who played 15 years in the NBA before becoming an analyst for ESPN, was reportedly offered the job on Thursday morning after meetings with general manager Rob Pelinka and owner Jeanie Buss over the weekend.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Redick’s ability “to connect with players and his basketball IQ” sealed the deal for Pelinka, who aims to surround Redick “with an elite coaching staff” to help him ease into his first coaching job.
The Lakers exited this year’s NBA Playoffs in the first-round after a 4-1 series loss to the Denver Nuggets. Darvin Ham was subsequently fired and LeBron’s future was cast into doubt.
Redick has no experience of coaching in the NBA, but his proximity to James, with whom he co-hosts a basketball podcast, appeared to put him in a good position in the hiring process.
Although it is believed that the 39-year-old forward was uninvolved in the hiring process.
The Lakers have yet to make any announcement regarding Redick’s hiring.
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The Lakers turned to the 39-year-old after failing to lure UConn Huskies coach Dan Hurley with a six-year, $70 million contract that he turned down.
