Kosport Magazine has confirmed that the Los Angeles Lakers have hired JJ Redick as their next head coach. Redick, a 15-year NBA veteran known for his successful career with the Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, New Orleans Pelicans, and Dallas Mavericks, was most recently working as a TV analyst for ESPN. This marks Redick’s first coaching job at any level.

In addition to his on-court success, Redick has also made a name for himself in the media industry. He hosted a popular podcast during his playing career and has been praised for his work as a broadcaster since retiring. Now, Redick will take on one of the most high-profile coaching positions in the NBA.

The Lakers’ search for a new head coach has been tumultuous, with Redick initially being one of the top candidates in the mix. However, the hiring process dragged out for over a month and included an unsuccessful attempt to woo UConn coach Dan Hurley with a six-year, $70 million offer. Ultimately, the Lakers turned back to Redick, who was considered for the job from the beginning.

While it’s not common for NBA teams to hire head coaches without any prior coaching experience, it has been done before. Most notably, the Brooklyn Nets hired Steve Nash in 2020 after he had only done developmental work for the Golden State Warriors. Similarly, the New York Knicks hired Derek Fisher immediately after he retired as a player in 2014, and the Nets did the same for Jason Kidd in 2013.

Redick may not have any coaching experience, but he has been on the radar of NBA teams for at least a year. He interviewed with the Toronto Raptors last summer and was a finalist for the Charlotte Hornets job this offseason before it went to Boston Celtics assistant Charles Lee. Current Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla even tried to get Redick on his coaching staff as an assistant last year, but he declined.

Redick will have at least one valuable ally in his new role as Lakers head coach: their star player, LeBron James. While James reportedly did not involve himself in the hiring process, he has a relationship with Redick through their podcast, “Mind the Game,” which they have co-hosted since March. The Lakers’ locker room support for former coach Darvin Ham was reportedly waning, so buy-in from players was likely a significant factor in this hire.

However, taking on the Lakers job as a first-time coach is no small task. The team is expected to win now, coming off a championship win in 2020 and a trip to the Western Conference finals last season. Adding pressure to the mix is the fact that James is

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