Lakers JJ Redick has reportedly agreed to a deal to make him the next head coach

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Lakers JJ Redick has reportedly agreed to a deal to make him the next head coach

After many twists and turns, Los Angeles Lakers has their next head coach.

JJ Redick and the Lakers have agreed to a four-year contract for him to become their next head coach, ESPN reported Thursday.

Los Angeles’ hiring of Redick was reportedly largely in the process after firing Darvin Ham on May 3. However, the Lakers have been in pursuit UConn coach Dan Hurley in early June. But Hurley turned down a reported six-year, $70 million offer on June 10, choosing to stay in Connecticut and pursue a chance at a three-peat with the Huskies.

Redick became the favorite for the Lakers job again after Hurley turned them down. Redick is scheduled to have his first official interview with Los Angeles on Saturday, ESPN previously reported. Redick previously met with Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka at the NBA Draft Combine in May, according to ESPN.

This will mark Redick’s first coaching contract at the professional or collegiate level. He played in the NBA for 15 seasons (2006–21), known to most fans for his strong 3-point shooting. After launching a podcast during his playing career, Redick quickly rose through the broadcasting ranks. He joined ESPN’s primary broadcast team during the 2023-24 season, calling the NBA Finals for the network.

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Even though he has no experience as a coach, Redick is considered an emerging talent in the coaching world. According to reports, he made it to the final round of the competition Charlotte Hornets‘ coaching gig earlier this season and has interviewed for other head coaching jobs.

Members of the Los Angeles organization became “infatuated” with Redick throughout the process, The Athletic reported the news previously in June. The Lakers are said to have consulted with the former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, who coached Redick in college, throughout the process.

Redick also has clear connections to the Lakers organization, having hosted a podcast, “Mind the Game,” with LeBron James since March. The show discusses the state of basketball along with analyzing the X’s and O’s. However, James’ future in LA is uncertain as he could opt out of his contract and become a free agent in this season.

Although James has been linked to Redick, he has not yet participated in the Lakers’ coaching search process. The Athletic reported in May. However, Hurley shared above “Herd” that thing James contacted him during his discussion with the group.

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Beyond Hurley and Redick, former and current Hornets head coaches New Orleans Pelican Associate coach James Borrego is said to be the other main candidate in the Lakers’ search.

After being eliminated in the first playoff round Denver nuggets, The team fired Ham after two seasons at the helm. It marked the second year in a row that the Nuggets ended the Lakers’ season, but last year LA made it to the Western Conference finals.

With the head coach’s assurance, the Lakers’ focus turned to the roster. If James stays in Los Angeles, the Lakers will likely compete for playoff tickets again. But the Lakers have not finished higher than seventh in the Western Conference standings since the 2019-20 season, when they won their last NBA title.

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