The Los Angeles Lakers and Their Star-Chasing Philosophy
The Los Angeles Lakers have always been known as a franchise that seeks out and attracts top talent. This philosophy has been the foundation of their success for the past 60 years. However, with their latest coaching search, it seems that the Lakers are once again focused on landing a big name rather than someone with proven credentials. This strategy is not new for the Lakers and is often what drives their decision-making.
One of the top candidates for the Lakers’ coaching position was ESPN broadcaster JJ Redick. This is a significant name in the basketball world, but lacking in coaching experience compared to other potential candidates such as Dan Hurley. However, before Hurley became a possible option, the Lakers were fully prepared to offer the job to Redick. The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Jovan Buha reported in May that the Lakers viewed Redick as a “Pat Riley-like coaching prospect.”
On the surface, there are some similarities between Redick and Riley, but these resemblances are only superficial. Redick may have the potential to become a great coach, but hiring him as a first-time coach with the expectation to live up to a Hall of Fame coach’s level is unfair and unrealistic. The Lakers have a history of being impatient with their coaches, and those comparisons could put immense pressure on Redick to produce immediate results.
The same can be said for other first-time coaches who were not given enough time to grow into their roles. We can see this happening in the current postseason with former player Jason Kidd. After spending one year with the Brooklyn Nets as head coach, he failed in a power struggle and quickly moved on to the Milwaukee Bucks. Under new coach Mike Budenholzer, the Bucks saw a significant improvement in their record.
Kidd is now coaching the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals after not being given enough time to develop as a coach. This is similar to Joe Mazzulla’s experience, who almost took the Celtics to the Finals last year. The Celtics stayed true to their hiring decision, and now Mazzulla has a chance to win a championship this season. Even coaches who are seen as having the potential to be the next Riley need time and proper experience before reaching that level of success.
For Redick, missing out on the Lakers’ head coaching position to Hurley could be a blessing in disguise. A crushing loss on a high-profile team could have a long-term impact on his coaching career. Just look at Darvin Ham, who has not been able to secure a head coaching job since being fired by the Lakers. In a way, not getting the job could save Redick from a decision that could potentially derail his coaching career.
Also, consider this surface-level connection between Redick and Riley. When it comes to having a bright future in coaching, it’s not only about being a great player in college or an NBA role player. As Riley showed, experience as an assistant coach before taking on a head coaching role is also crucial for success. Redick’s lack of experience could ultimately be a blessing in disguise for him, avoiding the unrealistic expectations that come with being compared to a legend like Riley.
Kosport Magazine’s Take
The Los Angeles Lakers have always been driven by the pursuit of star players, but this philosophy has its downsides. It can lead to a lack of patience and unrealistic expectations for first-time coaches like JJ Redick. While the Lakers may view him as a potential Pat Riley 2.0, comparing him to a Hall of Fame coach is not fair to Redick and could ultimately hurt his future in coaching. In this case, missing out on the Lakers’ job may be a blessing in disguise for Redick.
Riley’s Legacy: A Constant Challenge for Lakers’ Coaches
When Pat Riley took over the Lakers in 1981, he inherited a team that had just won a championship led by two star players, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Fast forward to present day, and the story remains the same for the incoming Lakers coach.
The Lakers may have won the championship in 2020, but they also face a constant challenge of living up to the high standards set by their previous coaches. LeBron James and Anthony Davis still remain as the team’s perimeter and interior stars, respectively. Yet, the expectations for the Lakers are nothing less than a championship, and anything less than that is considered a disappointment.
But it’s not just about winning for the Lakers. The expectations set for the new coach also include maintaining a level of success and creating a sustainable team for the future. As we’ve seen in the past, even an early exit from the playoffs can be viewed as a significant disappointment for the franchise.
Kosport Magazine’s Take
The reality for the Lakers is that they have a well-established duo in James and Davis, but their success is not guaranteed. If the two stars were to regress or face injuries, it could spell trouble for the Lakers.
Furthermore, improving their roster through trade will also come at a cost. And with a new, restrictive collective bargaining agreement in place, it becomes even more challenging for the Lakers to build a strong supporting cast around their stars.
the Lakers have to carefully navigate their decisions and find the right balance between short-term success and long-term sustainability. It’s a challenging task for any coach, but it’s one that comes with the territory of leading a team with such a storied legacy. Only time will tell if the next Lakers coach can live up to the challenge.Kosport Magazine:
The High Risk and High Reward Game of Coaching Legends
It’s that time of year again. The NBA playoffs are in full swing and teams are battling for a spot in the playoffs. But for some teams, even making it to the playoffs isn’t enough. They’re looking for something more – the next coaching legend who will lead them to championships.
Take the Los Angeles Lakers, for example. With two of the league’s biggest stars in LeBron James and Anthony Davis, they were expected to dominate this season. But when they couldn’t even make it past the Play-In round, questions started to arise about their future. What happens when James and Davis are older and dealing with injuries? Can the Lakers still compete in a tough Western Conference?
This is where the coaching legend comes in. A coach can make all the difference for a team. Just look at former Lakers coach Pat Riley, who is still considered one of the best coaches of all time. In fact, he was almost passed up for that coaching job back in 1979. What if he had never been given the opportunity to work with stars like Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar? Would he have still gone on to become the legend he is today?
The truth is, most coaching legends are made - not born. It’s all about the circumstances a coach finds themselves in. And that’s why the Lakers are eyeing up potential candidates like former player JJ Redick. With his basketball knowledge and previous working relationship with LeBron, he seems like the perfect fit.
But here’s where things get tricky. Redick may have all the makings of a coaching legend, but he has no prior experience at the collegiate or professional level. This means he’s diving into uncharted territory with the Lakers job. Will he thrive or will he struggle?
That’s the high risk, high reward game of coaching legends. They may have all the potential in the world, but it ultimately comes down to the circumstances they find themselves in. But for Redick, there’s another possible outcome: if things don’t go well in the NBA, he could easily return to the college coaching scene where he already has a strong reputation and two national championships under his belt.
So while the Lakers may be looking at a potential coaching legend, Redick must weigh the risks and rewards of taking on such a high-profile job without any prior coaching experience. But one thing is certain, Kosport Magazine believes in his potential and we can’t wait to see where his coaching journey takes him.
Kosport Magazine’s Take: Coaching legends are made, not born. While JJ Redick has all the makings of a great coach, taking on the high-profile job with the Los Angeles Lakers without any prior experience could be a risk. But with the right circumstances, he could become the next Pat Riley. Only time will tell.
