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A16 SPORTS
Friday 21 June 2024

The Lakers are hiring J.J. Redick as their

new head coach, an AP source says

By GREG BEACHAM this year. ESPN first reported and motivation.
AP Sports Writer the decision. Before Redick Now these two minds will
LOS ANGELES (AP) — JJ Redick finished broadcasting the be working together for the
is being hired as the head NBA Finals, he met with the Lakers, with Redick leading
coach of the Los Angeles Lak- Lakers last weekend and ap- a roster headlined by James,
ers, a person with knowledge parently did well enough to who is six months younger than
of the decision tells The As- end the franchise’s lengthy Redick.
sociated Press. coaching search. Less than Everything is contingent on
The person spoke on condi- two weeks after UConn coach James deciding to return to
tion of anonymity Thursday Danny Hurley turned down play with Anthony Davis and
because the Lakers hadn’t the Lakers’ ardent advances, the Lakers, of course. James,
yet publicly announced the Redick has accepted the job who will enter his 22nd NBA
decision to hire the former in a remarkable three-year season this fall, could decline
guard for his first coaching job. journey from the court to the his $51.4 million contract op-
The 39-year-old Redick is an broadcast booth to the Lak- tion this month to become a
extraordinary choice by the ers’ bench. free agent.
Lakers, who hired a 15-year Redick replaces Darvin But hiring Redick seems to be
veteran with absolutely no Ham, who was fired May 3 another calculated move by
coaching experience to lead despite leading the Lakers the Lakers to maximize their
a franchise with 17 NBA titles, to two playoff berths and a chances of keeping the 20-
one of the biggest brand Western Conference finals time All-Star and the driving
names in world sports and appearance in 2023. force behind their 2020 cham-
LeBron James, the top scorer Redick began recording a pionship team.
in league history. Redick was regular podcast with James Redick’s coaching experi-
a proficient outside shooter two months ago, and their ence is limited to his children’s
for six teams before his re- “Mind the Game” collabora- youth teams, but he has been
tirement in September 2021, tion is already wildly popular, around the game his entire
when he moved into a career with listeners often emerging life. He is the leading scorer J.J. Redick arrives for Game 4 of the NBA basketball finals
in broadcasting and podcast- impressed by the duo’s bas- in the history of Duke, where between the Dallas Mavericks and the Boston Celtics, Friday,
ing. He joined ESPN’s lead ketball acumen and high- he played four seasons under June 14, 2024, in Dallas. Associated Press
commentary team earlier level discussion of tactics Mike Krzyzewski.q