Los Angeles Lakers star forward LeBron James was expected to take a back seat as they look for a new head coach to replace Darvin Ham.
It was reportedly earlier in the process that James has zero input on the Lakers’ search for a new head coach. King James apparently wants the Lakers to make a decision that’s best for them beyond his playing days.
Now that Dan Hurley has turned down the Lakers to return to UConn, this process continues to play out. JJ Redick will formally interview with the Lakers’ brass in Southern California over the weekend. He now has to be seen as the front runner for the job.
Interestingly enough, Redick’s name now suggests that James is involved in the search for a new head coach. The two started co-hosting the “Mind the Game” podcast back in March. It’s seemingly not a coincidence.
“Anytime you hire a first-time head coach, you’re admitting you’re going to go through a learning curve,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst on LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers. “Obviously the Lakers have done a lot of research. And frankly, his interviews have been in those podcasts with LeBron James. They’ve extensively broken down the Lakers’ offense, extensively broken down what they do. It’s been out there for the whole world to hear, including from the Lakers’ front office.”
That’s all sorts of crazy right there. Indicating that his interviews have taken place during podcasts with James. Certainly, LeBron’s hands-off approach has been overreported.
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LeBron James likely returning to the Los Angeles Lakers
Regardless of how the Lakers’ search for a head coach plays out, it stands to reason that King James will be back for at least one more season.
He has an option for the 2024-25 campaign. James is expected to opt out before ultimately re-signing with the Lakers.
All of this comes with Los Angeles at a turning point. The team is coming off a first-round exit in the NBA Playoffs and is not anywhere near a title contender.
D’Angelo Russell is as good as gone. The future of Austin Reaves is seemingly up in the air. There is very little behind James and Anthony Davis on the Lakers’ roster.
Hiring an inexperienced head coach like Redick would obviously be a bold move. It would also come with a ton of scrutiny.