Who wants to be the next head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers? Not Dan Hurley, but there are still several other candidates who could become LeBron James and Anthony Davis’s next head coach.
One of the biggest names most frequently linked to the Lakers’ coaching vacancy is former NBA player JJ Redick, who’s been working as ESPN’s lead NBA analyst during the Finals and also hosts a podcast with LeBron. But Redick has never coached at the college or NBA level.
Yet, despite his inexperience, the Lakers still remain intrigued by the former Duke superstar turned NBA sharpshooter. During last month’s NBA Draft Combine, Redick had a 90-minute interview with Lakers GM Rob Pelinka, and now, he’s set to meet with more of the team’s top decision-makers.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Lakers have scheduled a weekend interview with Redick, for which Pelinka and team owner Jeanie Buss will be in attendance.
If Redick has a strong interview, the belief is that he’ll catapult himself to the forefront of the Lakers’ coaching search. The former NBA shooting guard has reportedly been in close contact with Pelinka over the past few days following the fallout of pursuing Hurley, who turned down a $70 million contract offer.
Chances are, if he impresses, Redick won’t receive a contract offer anywhere close to the back-to-back NCAA Champion. Yet, if Redick can grab the Lakers’ attention with his plans to prioritize the development of young players such as Max Christie, Austin Reaves, and Rui Hachimura while maximizing Anthony Davis’ skillset, he could emerge as the frontrunner for the job.
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