EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — In between interviews in which he talked to the Lakers about their coaching vacancy, JJ Redick readily admitted he spent time watching and reading commentary on why he isn’t.
“I’ve certainly heard everything,” Redick said. “It’s been a really interesting six weeks or so just in terms of being part of the engagement farming industry.”
What did that engagement farming industry produce? Plenty.
That the Lakers hired Redick only because he appeared on the “Mind the Game” podcast with LeBron James. That the Lakers actually preferred hiring Connecticut coach Dan Hurley once they realized he didn’t secure a contract extension following two consecutive NCAA title runs. That Redick is jumping into an unstable organization after fielding three different head coaches in the past five years. That Redick will become overwhelmed partly because of his of NBA head-coaching experience.
“I really don’t give a f---,” Redick said, sparking surprised looks and unexpected laughter.
JJ Redick on if he wants to prove any misconceptions wrong. : “I really don’t give a f—.” He then explained it’s more about trying to be a good NBA head coach and help the Lakers win pic.twitter.com/zfRfmEAwIt
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) June 24, 2024
Redick displayed his humility over the Lakers aggressively pursuing Hurley despite initially talking at the NBA pre-draft combine in Chicago. Though Pelinka said Redick “was in our Plan A pool of coaches that we were really interested in exploring,” the Lakers appeared more interested in exploring a partnership with Hurley in the form of a six-year, $70 million offer.
Redick showcased his basketball expertise when he talked extensively both with how he would feature his stars and role players. Redick called on LeBron James and Rui Hachimura to shoot more 3s. Redick said he has talked with Anthony Davis about expanding his offensive and defensive role.
Redick touted the importance of improving on “the margins,” including the team’s 29th league ranking in offensive rebounding. Redick gushed about talking with Austin Reaves, Jalen Hood-Schifino and Max Christie. Gabe Vincent, Christian Wood and Spencer Dinwiddie were among the rotation players that attended Redick’s introductory press conference.
Redick revealed his optimism over the Lakers’ championship fortunes. Sure, the Lakers lost to the Denver Nuggets in five games in the first round of the playoffs. Sure, James will enter his 22nd NBA season with uncertainty on how long he can outlast Father Time. Sure, Davis faces questions on whether he has the durability and consistency to become the team’s focal point. Sure, the Lakers have an inconsistent supporting cast that may or may not prompt Pelinka to make moves this offseason, beginning with the NBA Draft on Wednesday.
Yet, Redick sounded sincere about his optimism that he and his players can significantly improve the team from within.
“I don't look at the current roster as being that far off from a championship-caliber team,” Redick said. “In terms of managing expectations, I think in life, you just got to embrace things.
"You know, you just really have to embrace things. You don't run from it. If you need to talk about it, you talk about it. There's not a player, I've never played with players in the NBA who were like, 'You know what? This year's not the year. I don't think we can win a championship.'
"Now, the expectations here are certainly different. And as we sort of build out the culture, one of the things, and Rob and I have talked about this, you have to let go of outcomes. You just do. It has to be about the enjoyment and embracing the process. And if the Los Angeles Lakers on day one get better every single day, I'm very confident that come April, we will be a championship-caliber team.”
The Lakers certainly believe so. Pelinka called Redick “one of the best basketball communicators out there” and reveled in talking about “high-level strategy” with him at the NBA pre-draft combine. Redick said that Bucks coach Doc Rivers and Pacers coach Rick Carlisle predicted Redick would become a strong basketball coach for the same reason.
Former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski has advised Redick amid other head-coaching interviews with the Toronto Raptors and Charlotte Hornets. Although neither Redick or Pelinka confirmed specific candidates, both stressed they will collaboratively construct a coaching staff filled with veterans to mitigate his learning curve.
“Clearly leaning into that experience with the front of the bench coaches and finding hopefully a couple guys that are former head coaches, I think is going to set JJ up for support,” Pelinka said. “At the end of the day, that's what we're most interested in doing is make sure we help him select and build a staff that sets him and the team up for success.”
“If the perfect trade comes along, we can use picks to make it and win a championship, yeah, we'll do it. Is that trade going to be there? I don't know. It's harder in this system to find perfect trades.”
Lakers governor Jeannie Buss fired her brother, Jim, and longtime general manager Mitch Kupchak partly because she believed they lacked consistent vision. Following Phil Jackson’s retirement, Mike Brown (2011-12), Mike D’Antoni (2012-14) and Byron Scott (2014-16) didn’t last more than two seasons.
Even under her leadership, the Lakers have fired coaches just as quickly. Luke Walton (2017-19) lasted two seasons amid increased pressure with James’ arrival. Despite winning an NBA title his first season (2019-20), Frank Vogel received a pink slip following a missed playoff appearance in 2021-22 amid overlapping injuries and Russell Westbrook’s poor fit.
A year after helping the Lakers advance to the Western Conference Finals, Darvin Ham worried the Lakers about how he handled rotations and play calls. How much patience will the Lakers afford Redick, who just agreed to a four-year, $32 million deal?
“I have zero coaching experience in the NBA. But I would argue that I'm very experienced,” Redick said. “It started 22 years ago when I went to Duke and I got to play for Coach K for four years, spent 15 years as a player.
"Honestly, the last three years have been invaluable in preparing me for this moment. Being able to connect to players, talking to them on the podcast, being in coaching interviews with ESPN, calling games, analyzing the game in three different formats. All of that has helped prepare me to be an NBA head coach.”
And it may help prepare Redick for handling the scrutiny that comes with it. Not that he f---- cares.