J.J. Redick isn’t naïve.
He didn’t play for and graduate from Duke, spend 15 seasons in the NBA and earn $117 million in salary and then find media work as a sought-after analyst on ESPN, ABC and podcasts just to walk into an NBA head coaching search oblivious.
Especially when it’s the Los Angeles Lakers.
He understands the NBA, the media landscape that envelops the league and remained patient and quiet as the Lakers interviewed him, tried to hire UConn men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley, interviewed him again after Hurley declined the Lakers’ offer and finally offered him the job.
Redick is the Lakers’ next coach, and he has a monumental task: try to get the Lakers another title with LeBron James (given he returns) and Anthony Davis while developing players for a team that must prepare for a roster without James and Davis at some point.
The Lakers view Redick as a short-term and long-term answer, and with Redick their seventh coach since Phil Jackson left in 2011, they’re looking for stability on the bench.
It’s impossible to tell what kind of success Redick will have as coach of the Lakers.
Other ex-NBA players have transitioned to head coach with no coaching experience in between. Doc Rivers did it a few seasons after his playing days were done and had productive years with Orlando. Rivers was 38 when he got the Magic job. Redick will be 40 on Monday.
Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd went from playing for the New York Knicks one season to coaching the Brooklyn Nets the next season, and he has had varying degrees of success including a trip to the NBA Finals this season. Steve Nash found the transition difficult and lasted two full seasons and seven games into his third season, also with the Nets.
There’s no question Redick understands the modern game. He is three years removed from his playing career and has remained close to the game and if you have listened to his podcasts – either ”Old Man and the Three” or ”Mind of the Game” with James – it’s clear his basketball acumen is top-notch.
How that translates as a coach will be watched closely, as will the relationship between Redick and James. Based on their podcast, it’s clear they get along, share many of the same basketball philosophies and see the game in similar ways. But what happens when they disagree and one is upset with the other? They understand that’s part of the game, but it’s LeBron, it’s a first-time coach with a big name and it’s the Lakers. Their relationship will be scrutinized.
Hiring an experienced coaching staff will make the transition easier. If he can find a former head coach or two who want to be assistants, that would be a great start in addition to assistant coaches specializing in player development.
Much of what he does – from rotations to strategy to play-calls to staff hires – will be analyzed and overanalyzed. But he is smart and thoughtful and there is nothing to suggest that he won’t put in the preparation and work. That doesn’t guarantee him anything.
