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Disinformation report hotline: 010-85061466
JJ Redick of ESPN works during Game 3 of the NBA Western Conference first-round playoffs between the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Clippers at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, U.S., April 26, 2024. /CFP
The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to hire former NBA sharpshooter JJ Redick as the team's head coach on a four-year contract, ESPN reported on Thursday. According to The Athletic, he will make about $8 million per year.
That was a very generous offer by the purple and gold to someone with no experience coaching any team since retiring as a player in 2021. Redick has instead been working as an on-air sports analyst for ESPN.
ESPN revealed that Redick met with Lakers' vice president and general manager Rob Pelinka as well as owner Jeanie Buss last weekend, before Pelinka offered him the job on Thursday morning.
The Lakers, who fired coach Darvin Ham after the 2023-24 season, chose Redick after University of Connecticut Huskies' boss Dan Hurley rejected their six-year, $70 million offer.
LeBron James dribbles in Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference first-round playoffs against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, April 29, 2024. /CFP
Despite Redick's ability to connect with players and his basketball IQ, which sold Pelinka on him, no coach has lasted in the position for more than three years since Phil Jackson resigned in 2011.
Six others have since served as the team's coach including Frank Vogel, who helped them win their 17th NBA championship in 2020, but that accomplishment didn't save him from being fired in 2022.
The Lakers lost to the Denver Nuggets in the playoffs in each of the last two seasons. Legendary superstar LeBron James has a $51.4 million player for the 2024-25 campaign and has until June 29 to decide if he wants to exercise it. He turns 40 in December and his son Bronny James will participate in the NBA Draft that will begin on June 26.
ESPN reported that Pelinka will try to assemble an elite coaching staff for Redick. Multiple analysts named their speculative candidates, including former NBA coaches Stan Van Gundy, Monty Williams and Scott Brooks, and former championship-winning guard Rajon Rondo.