Lakers hire J.J. Reddick as new Head Coach

New Beginnings! After a 48-day quest, the Los Angeles Lakers have made a polarizing move by appointing former NBA player and ESPN analyst J.J. Reddick as their new head coach. This decision marks the 29th head coach in the franchise's history and the eighth head coach in thirteen years for the Lakers since the departure of Hall of Famer Phil Jackson in 2011. The Lakers, who have been searching for consistent leadership from the sidelines, eagerly anticipate a fresh era under J.J.'s guidance, which is expected to impact the team's performance positively. 

Reddick signed a four-year deal worth “in the neighborhood” of $8 million annually, which puts him just outside the top five highest-paid coaches in the NBA. Roughly three weeks ago, NBA insider and reporter Shams Charania announced that Reddick had emerged as a top candidate. Those reports were quickly combated by NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, who broke the news of UCONN’s Dan Hurley being the Lakers' top priority. The Lakers offered Hurley a six-year, $70 million contract, which he eventually declined.

Although J.J. Reddick has never coached anywhere besides volunteering for a fourth-grade boys’ basketball team, the Lakers are brimming with optimism about his potential, even going as far as to compare him to the legendary Pat Riley. When asked about his lack of professional coaching experience, Reddick said the past three years as a podcaster and ESPN analyst have been invaluable in his preparation. “Being able to connect with the players, talking to them on the podcast, being in coaching interviews with ESPN calling games, analyzing the game in three different formats. All of that has helped prepare me to be an NBA head coach.” General Manager Rob Pelinka was particularly impressed by Redick's ability to connect with players and his high basketball IQ LeBron James also respects J.J.’s IQ, as the two hosted a highly successful podcast together. The Lakers are fully committed to Redick's success and firmly believe that surrounding him with an elite coaching staff is crucial to accelerate his learning curve in his first coaching job, and this commitment is contagious.

Is J.J. Reddick the right hire for the Lakers? How will Reddick do in his first professional coaching stint? Comment your thoughts below!