Former NBA player-turned-pundit J.J. Redick says he’s prepared for the problem of taking the Los Angeles Lakers again to the head of the NBA after being confirmed as the brand new head coach of the 17-time champions.
Redick, who spent 15 years within the NBA as a participant earlier than becoming a member of ESPN in 2021 as an analyst, was formally unveiled on Tuesday because the successor to Darvin Ham, who was fired following the Lakers’ first-round playoff defeat to Denver.
Redick’s appointment to such a high-profile place, which was first reported final week, has raised eyebrows throughout the NBA given his lack of teaching expertise.
The 40-year-old analyst acknowledged these issues in remarks to reporters on Tuesday, admitting his emergence as a contender for the Lakers job had been “surreal.”
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“This course of has been surreal to say the least,” Redick stated, earlier than thanking the Lakers for “entrusting me on this place.”
“I take this duty very critically,” Redick stated.
“I’ve by no means coached within the NBA earlier than. I don’t know when you guys have heard that.”
The Lakers completed the common season with a 47-35 document however have been unable to threaten Denver within the opening spherical of the playoffs.
Redick stated he was underneath no illusions in regards to the scale of the rebuilding job earlier than him.
“I do know what the expectations are,” Redick stated.
“Lakers followers have among the most passionate followers around the globe. And the expectation is a championship.
“In order that’s my job. It’s our employees’s job … It’s on all of us to ship a championship-caliber workforce.”
Redick, who labored for ESPN earlier than taking over the Lakers position, stated he was nicely conscious of what had been stated about him when requested what false impression about him as coach he was trying ahead to dispelling.
“It’s a legitimate query. And I’ve actually heard the whole lot,” Redick stated.
“It’s been a very fascinating six weeks or so, simply by way of being part of the engagement farming trade, it’s been actually fascinating. Nevertheless, I don’t actually have an incredible reply to your query as a result of I actually don’t give a f***.
“I need to coach the Lakers. I need to coach the workforce. I don’t need to dispel something. I need to grow to be an incredible coach within the NBA, and I need to win championships. And I would like my gamers to maximise their careers. That’s all I f***ing care about.”
Lakers basic supervisor Rob Pelinka stated Redick had been appointed after a “considerate and thorough search course of.” “J.J. is a fierce competitor and has a unprecedented basketball IQ and understanding of the fashionable recreation that can energise gamers and excite followers,” Pelinka stated.
“He brings an intense dedication to innovation, advancing the sport and staying on the forefront of an ever-evolving league…that is an thrilling time for Lakers basketball.” Media studies say Redick has been appointed on a four-year deal. It got here after the Lakers have been rejected by extremely rated College of Connecticut coach Dan Hurley, who opted to stay in school basketball.
Redick has a detailed relationship with Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, with whom he co-hosts a podcast, and the Lakers are clearly hoping that bond will assist flip the workforce again into title contenders.
Throughout his NBA enjoying profession, Redick averaged 12.8 factors, 2.0 rebounds and a couple of.0 assists a recreation over 940 contests from 2006-2021 with Orlando, Milwaukee, the Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia and New Orleans.