Former NBA participant JJ Redick (Getty Pictures through AFP)
LOS ANGELES – Former NBA player-turned-pundit J.J. Redick says he’s prepared for the problem of taking the Los Angeles Lakers again to the top of the NBA after being confirmed as the brand new head coach of the 17-time champions.
Redick, who spent 15 years within the NBA as a participant earlier than becoming a member of ESPN in 2021 as an analyst, was formally unveiled on Monday because the successor to Darvin Ham, who was fired following the Lakers’ first-round playoff defeat to Denver.
Redick’s appointment to such a high-profile place, which was first reported final week, has raised eyebrows throughout the NBA given his lack of teaching expertise.
The 40-year-old analyst acknowledged these considerations in remarks to reporters on Monday, admitting his emergence as a contender for the Lakers job had been “surreal.”
“This course of has been surreal to say the least,” Redick mentioned, earlier than thanking the Lakers for “entrusting me on this place.”
“I take this accountability very severely,” Redick mentioned. “I’ve by no means coached within the NBA earlier than. I don’t know if you happen to guys have heard that.”
The Lakers completed the common season with a 47-35 document however have been unable to threaten Denver within the opening spherical of the playoffs.
Redick mentioned he was underneath no illusions in regards to the scale of the rebuilding job earlier than him.
“I do know what the expectations are,” Redick mentioned. “Lakers followers have among the most passionate followers around the globe. And the expectation is a championship.
“In order that’s my job. It’s our workers’s job … It’s on all of us to to ship a championship-caliber workforce.”
Lakers common supervisor Rob Pelinka mentioned Redick had been appointed after a “considerate and thorough search course of.”
“J.J. is a fierce competitor and has a unprecedented basketball IQ and understanding of the trendy sport that can energize gamers and excite followers,” Pelinka mentioned.
“He brings an intense dedication to innovation, advancing the sport and staying on the forefront of an ever-evolving league…that is an thrilling time for Lakers basketball.”
Media experiences say Redick has been appointed on a four-year deal.
It got here after the Lakers have been rejected by extremely rated College of Connecticut coach Dan Hurley, who opted to stay in school basketball.
Redick has an in depth relationship with Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, with whom he co-hosts a podcast, and the Lakers are clearly hoping that bond will assist flip the workforce again into title contenders.
Throughout his NBA taking part in profession, Redick averaged 12.8 factors, 2.0 rebounds and a couple of.0 assists a sport over 940 contests from 2006-2021 with Orlando, Milwaukee, the Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia and New Orleans.
